AUSTRALIA’S BEST Halcyon wins a hat-trick of awards
PICKLEBALL HAWAIIAN STYLE Competition with an island flavour
Summer 2020/2021 GIVING BACK Homeowners unite to benefit local communities
TWILIGHT ON THE GREEN Bowls, BBQs and balmy summer nights
CONTENTS
5. Cover story
9. Get on your bike
13. UDIA award
Halcyon homeowners give back
Lakeside’s e-bike craze
Halcyon Greens scores rare double
18. JMD message
21. Twilight bowls
26. Fitness and fun
Reaping the rewards of hard work
Players get social
Trainer Nick’s advice for summer
27. Cinema mania
29. Good thymes
35. Recipes
Choc-tops, popcorn and blockbusters
Landing’s green team reap their harvest
Summer fruit, sweet treats
Cover image: Colleen Barrie, Vision by Halcyon, and her grandchildren Lahni, Maylee and Rylan
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Whilst all care has been taken in the preparation of the 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 3 December 2020.
to the Summer edition Weoflcome My Halcyon Days. What a different year it has been for the world with the pandemic which has changed the way we live. Special thanks must go to the Halcyon team who have looked after our safety and wellbeing, and to my fellow homeowners who have helped out others in so many situations during this time. Such a giving and caring community. My husband Graeme and I have lived at Halcyon Parks for over seven years and we couldn’t think of anywhere better to live in our retirement, and to continue giving back to this community that we love. Remember love, kindness and respect are never wasted. They always make a difference. They bless the one who receives them, and they bless you, the giver.
FOREWORD
In this edition Merry Christmas to all our homeowners and readers. Graeme and I wish you all a happy and healthy Christmas and may the peace and joy of the season remain with you throughout next year. Please enjoy this edition and some of the wonderful stories from our communities. Merle Scott Halcyon Parks SHARE YOUR HALCYON DAYS Want to share your Halcyon Days with us? Send your story to my@halcyondays.com.au
We are looking forward to Christmas and we all certainly need some cheer. Reaching out to our lovely homeowners who may be separated from family or are on their own this year will be our priority. We plan to invite our fellow homeowners to join us for drinks or to share Christmas lunch with us at Halcyon Parks Recreation Club. As I love singing and reading poems I thought I would share this little poem for Christmas.
There’s more, much more to Christmas Than candlelight and cheer, It’s the spirit of sweet friendship That brightens all the year; It’s thoughtfulness and kindness, It’s hope reborn again, For peace, for understanding, For goodwill to everyone. – Edna Greene Hines
Merle Scott, Halcyon Parks
SUMMER 2020 | 2
HALCYON GREENS
Dink Hawaiian style HOMEOWNERS BRING A TASTE OF ALOHA TO PIMPAMA
Darryl Kleidon
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n enthusiastic group of Halcyon Greens’ A homeowners donned their finest tropical clothes for a perfect evening of pickleball or pukaball as they call it on Maui.
Halcyon’s in-house pickleball coach and guru Keith Bing travelled down from his home in Noosa to run a series of fun games and drills before the inaugural Halcyon Greens’ Championships kicked off. Keith said the sport was really starting to take off, and while we don’t know official numbers from Australia, the numbers from a recent report in the US are a good indication. “There are now almost 3.5 million players in the United States, according to the 2020 Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), in what is perhaps the world’s fastest growing sport,” he said. Halcyon are the pioneers of pickleball in Australia, building the country’s first court at Halcyon Glades in Caboolture.
John and Lily Barker
Boasting eight floodlit courts, Halcyon Greens has more purpose-built pickleball courts than any other sporting facility or lifestyle community in Australia.
Lilian Newble and Ann Ryan Bernie Low
Pam Beardmore
Keith and Sharon Bing
SUMMER 2020 | 4
COVER STORY
Halcyon homeowners give back their time and money to help those in need CHRISTMAS IS A TIME OF GIVING, BUT IN TRUE HALCYON HOMEOWNER STYLE – THAT GENEROSITY IS A PERMANENT FIXTURE
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE FRIENDS OF HALCYON THANK YOU VIDEO
Colleen Barrie and grandchildren Lahni, Maylee and Rylan, Vision by Halcyon
t’s been a year that’s Iharder affected all of us, some than others and
charities have done it particularly tough as they rely on events to raise much-needed funds for the people who depend on it.
Halcyon homeowners have a long heritage of fundraising for many charities as well as donating their time and energy through volunteering to help those in need. Through the Friends of Halcyon referral program, more than $110,000 has been donated to almost 65 different charities thanks to the generosity
of our referrers, who get to choose their own charity to give back to. The most popular causes are a number of different cancer organisations including Cancer Council QLD, Breast Cancer Foundation and Prostate Cancer as well as animal welfare charities such as Animal Welfare League QLD (AWLQ) and the RSPCA. Others include Surf Life Saving Queensland, Parkinson’s Australia, Story Dogs and domestic and family violence charities like DV Connect who operate Bella’s Sanctuary.
For a list of all the charities go to our website https://www.lifebeginsathalcyon.com.au/friends-of-halcyon-referral LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
GENERATIONS KEEPING OUR BEACHES SAFE ision by Halcyon V homeowner Colleen Barrie has spent a
lifetime of Sundays down at the beach, firstly with son Dean and that tradition continues with her grandchildren. “We started down at Coledale on the NSW south coast when Dean was little and he has done it ever since,” she said. “He’s heavily involved with the Miami Surf Club and is Junior Age manager and all three kids are extremely active.”
Colleen said Rylan (14), Lahni (11) and Maylee (5) loved spending their weekends down at the beach and would no doubt continue the family tradition of helping the community through surf lifesaving. She said SLS was an incredibly vital part of the community as it taught surf safety to generations of Aussie kids as well as helped protect swimmers on our beaches. “It’s also great for everyone’s health and their sanity and it is a wonderful way to spend time together as a family,” she said.
GIVING BACK
FRIENDS AND FAMILY EXPERIENCE INSPIRES DONATION fter being referred to Halcyon Greens by A friends of over 30 years, new homeowners Helen and Ross Goodfellow chose to give to the Breast Cancer Foundation.
“We’ve been friends with Paul and Marie (Madeley) for more than 30 years, so we were excited to move into the community,” Helen said. “We chose to donate to the Breast Cancer Foundation as we’ve had a number of friends and my cousin go through it,” she said. “My cousin was diagnosed six years ago and she had all her lymph nodes removed, but she is doing OK.” Helen said they were happy to help an organisation which funds research as well as helps sufferers and their families as they navigate their way through such an insidious disease. “I have another friend who had breast cancer 15 years ago and has been clear, but recently has been diagnosed with brain cancer so it shows you that we just have to keep supporting these charities as much as we can.”
Daphne and Tony McDade, Halcyon Greens
CANCER SURVIVAL TOUCHES COUPLE hile there are hundreds of worthy W charities who all do good work, there was no doubt in the minds of Tony and Daphne McDade where their donation would go.
“Four years ago Daphne had a routine mammogram and there was something not right, “ Tony recalls. “They did an ultrasound and found a cancerous lump in both breasts at the same time.” Tony said that was on a Wednesday and by Friday Daphne was in hospital undergoing surgery to remove both lumps, which was followed by a month of intense daily radiation. He said Daphne’s prognosis was good and she has been cancer free for the past four years. “There was no doubt in our minds who we wanted to give our donation to, it was the Breast Cancer Foundation because it touched us and with the help of Halcyon we can hopefully make other people’s lives better,” he said. www.nbcf.org.au Ross and Helen Goodfellow, Halcyon Greens
SUMMER 2020 | 6
GIVING BACK
ABOUT AWLQ Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ) is a Gold Coast based organisation which was started in 1959 and works with councils and the community to improve the outcomes for abandoned and homeless pets. AWLQ strives to give every animal in need a second chance at life and promises never to euthanise a healthy, sociable or treatable animal in their care. As a result they have one of the lowest euthanasia rates in Australia for a shelter of our size. AWLQ’s Rehoming Program is one of the most successful in the country, with an average of 120 animals each week being adopted from their Animal Rehoming Centres. The team of volunteers and animal-care attendants are dedicated to providing a high quality of care and meeting each animals’ unique needs through training and enrichment programs. This year, 6115 animals were rehomed through adoption and rescue groups. In addition 3,791 animals were reunited with their owners.
www.awlqld.com.au Hamish Bell, Halcyon Greens
PASSIONATE ANIMAL LOVERS GIVE BACK
assionate animal lovers Kerry Plongstanding and Shannon Bell have had a relationship with the Animal Welfare League Queensland (AWLQ).
“We love animals and we love what the AWLQ does as they rehome animals rather than euthanase,” Shannon said. “We have volunteered with them many times over the years and its always rewarding to be able to give back.” Kerry and Shannon are longtime Gold Coast residents and moved into Halcyon Waters at Hope Island before making the move to Halcyon Greens at Pimpama a few years ago. “We joke that we have lived from Palm Beach to Pimpama,” Kerry said. “We love Halcyon and the facilities here at Greens are incredible.” The couple are heavily involved in the Greens community with Kerry LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
serving as the Chair of the Home Owners Committee (HOC). They joke that their dog Hamish might be the most famous member of the Bell family, having starred in Halcyon’s latest TV commercial. “He’s already told me he wants a new agent,” Kerry joked of their beloved pet, an eight-year-old West Highland Terrier who they’ve had since he was a puppy. The couple jumped at the chance to refer their friends Phil and Jan Wregg to Greens, and see the Friends of Halcyon program as a win-win for all parties. “We win because our friends get to move in, the charity gets a donation and Halcyon gets some great homeowners,” Kerry said. “We also love that you get to choose the charity you want to donate to rather than it being dictated as it’s an opportunity to give back to something you’re passionate about.”
Kerry, Shannon and Hamish Bell, Halcyon Greens
GIVING BACK
PERSONAL HEARTBREAK INSPIRES PAUL AND MARIE arie Madeley tears up when she talks about M Micah Projects, the charity she and husband Paul have made a donation to. “They help homeless people get accommodation and back on their feet,” she said. “They helped our daughter, she has had a lot of problems with drugs.” Paul added: “She was living on the street and Micah Projects were instrumental in finding her accommodation.” He said addiction, and in particular ice addiction, was not uncommon and affects every part of society. “Our daughter is 30 and her addiction has been going on for six years,” he said. “She’s been clean, on and off, but she’s fallen back into it, which as you can imagine is a tough position for us. He said they were grateful to be able to help Micah Projects, which often struggles to get the same sort of attention and funding as larger charities. “We are appreciative that Halcyon do help in such a generous way,” he said. “And it’s wonderful that we are able to choose the charities which mean something to us.” www.micahprojects.org.au
Judy and Russell Linwood, Halcyon Greens
FORMER ARMY OFFICER DIGS DEEP FOR HIS SOLDIERS f the 125,000 military veterans living in Queensland, O one-third are doing well while the remainder suffer mental health issues, substance abuse and thoughts of suicide.
Statistics former Army officer and Duntroon graduate, Halcyon Greens’ homeowner Russell Linwood finds utterly unacceptable, which is why he and wife Judy chose to support a Gold Coast based charity called Veterans Care. “They are an organisation run by a friend of mine and they often are the difference between ex veterans ending their life prematurely or trying to make a go of it,” Russell said. Veterans Care runs live-in camps and programs designed to support and nurture veterans, many of them struggling to make it to the end of each day. “The money will help teach them the practical and psychological value of being loved and cared for by a society which deployed them to war.” he said. “It gives them back purpose and the realisation that their lives are valuable.” *Russell and wife Judy kindly donated their entire Friends of Halcyon referral bonus. Marie and Paul Madeley, Halcyon Greens
http://www.veteranscare.com.au SUMMER 2020 | 8
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Get on your bike! LAKESIDE’S E-BIKE CRAZE TAKES OFF DURING COVID-19
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he look of “pure joy” on T Sandy Chadwick’s face when she started riding her e-bike
around Halcyon Lakeside was the inspiration for more than 30 other homeowners to buy their own.
“When the pool closed during lockdown, I knew I had to get some exercise another way and the second I got my bike, I was on it all the time and then everyone wanted one,” she said. “Everybody said that when they saw me riding, the look of pure joy was the incentive for them to go and buy one themselves. “It went around the place so fast and now we have at least 30 to 40 people who now own e-bikes.” While not an official group, homeowners from Lakeside’s “bikie gang” as they are affectionately known, can be found riding around the community or around Bli Bli. Sandy said her arthritis and double knee replacement means it is difficult for her to walk for long distances comfortably. “I always ride through the community and then outside of the gates around the lakes at least twice a day,” she said.”It has given me my legs back and the freedom to just get up and go, which has been very powerful for me.” Sandy said she bought her four-wheeler bike, which does have a motor but also needs to be pedalled for it to move. “I can use the “assist” feature on different levels but I do need to pedal or the bike will stop,” she said. “I like that I have to pedal as it has helped my leg strength and my fitness, but the most amazing thing is the freedom I feel. “It’s given me my life back.”
Sandy Chadwick, Margi Davey and Del Tandy and her Groodle, Claire Bear, Halcyon Lakeside
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE CH7 AND 9 NEWS COVERAGE
SUMMER 2020 | 10
LIFESTYLE Shirley and Peter Opie, Halcyon Waters
Get your motor running SHIRLEY AND PETER ARE MASTERING THE ART OF LIVING otorbike enthusiasts M Shirley and Peter Opie love pulling up at a café, parking their Harley Davidson and taking their helmets off.
“We love it,” Shirley said. “It’s a beautiful community and we are meeting lots of lovely people and we can’t wait to just hit the road as it’s easy to lock and go.”
“I love seeing the expressions on people’s faces when they see us,” Shirley laughed. “They don’t expect us to be the age we are.”
Peter said they have always had bikes, but this is their first Hog having previously owned Japanese bikes and a Triumph.
The couple, also keen caravanners, have recently moved into Halcyon Waters at Hope Island, having spent the last 20+ years living on Tamborine Mountain after immigrating from New Zealand 30 years ago.
“I had said that before I die I had to buy a Harley,” Peter said. “Everybody should own a Harley at least once in their life.”
Plac LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
He said there was nothing better than getting out on the open road on a motorbike.
“There’s nothing better than sitting up on the bike, opening up the throttle and powering it up,” he said. The couple are looking forward to getting back out on the road in their caravan as they also take the Harley with them. “We get out every chance we can get,” Shirley said. “We’ve got a proper bike trailer so we cart the Harley around with us so we can ride it in all parts of the country.” “Australia is an amazing place, there is so much to see and do, we are really so lucky.”
PEOPLE
IT guru keeps Lakeside connected PAUL ROGERS LOVES HELPING HIS FELLOW HOMEOWNERS WITH TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES
Words by Paul Rogers t’s incredibly rewarding Ifellow to be able to help my homeowners navigate the sometimes seemingly daunting world of technology.
I am an electronics engineer and I’ve lived in the Bli Bli community for three years, and for the last two have been heavily involved in managing and improving the internal website. I’ve always had a strong interest in technology and have always found ways to use computers to help make my job and life easier. Assisted by two other homeowners, Richard Wetton and Noel McGilvray, we manage the website. I spend around one day per week working on it and have also been building its functionality. We had initially started with registrations for social events, but then extended the capability to include other activities like fitness classes in the gym. When COVID hit, this capability proved to be very useful in limiting class sizes and recording attendees without additional paperwork. Most of my website work is done from my home office, as I have three computer screens. However, I’m often asked to help out within the community and I also make
‘house calls’, where I go and help people in their homes. Normally it’s one or two calls per week where I help to sort out email problems or assist with access to the community website and facility booking system. I also maintain Classifieds, Lost or Found, and Community Maintenance Request webpages. I love technology and I believe it is an excellent way to promote communication within the community, as well as being an efficient way of conducting business. My aim is to get more people involved in the community by making it easier for them to participate in group activities and to register for social or community events. There is sometimes a barrier to learning, so I really enjoy being able to sit down, walk them through the steps until they get comfortable with it, they’re then very appreciative and that’s very rewarding. I have also developed a number of interface applications for the system including one which links the event registration portal with the cashless point of sale system at the Recreation Club’s bar. Being involved in this way is great for me as it keeps the grey matter active.
Paul Rogers, Halcyon Lakeside
SUMMER 2020 | 12
HALCYON LAKESIDE
Halcyon Lakeside judged best in the country BLI BLI COMMUNITY TAKES OUT ANOTHER NATIONAL AWARD
Heated mineral salt pool and spa LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
Gold class style cinema
alcyon Lakeside is the first and only seniors living Hcommunity to win two prestigious national awards. The Bli Bli community has been awarded Australia’s Best Retirement Living Development at the 2020 National Retirement Living Awards. The win complements Halcyon Lakeside’s 2019 Urban Development Institute of Australia’s (UDIA) National Award for Seniors Living, further recognising the over50s lifestyle community’s excellence in Australia. This is the first time Halcyon has entered the Property Council’s National Retirement Living Awards and the inaugural year for the new category of Best Retirement Living Development. The Property Council judges noted: “The modern senior expects, demands and deserves new standards and new ways. Halcyon has responded; delivering a unique development and a community which provides environmental, physical, social and financial sustainability for its residents. Halcyon Joint Managing Director, Dr Bevan Geissmann said it was incredibly rewarding to be recognised as being the best in the country for seniors living. “We are always striving to create communities which provide premium homes, first class facilities and are a platform for our homeowners to form connections with each other and the local community,” he said. “We are very proud to be named Australia’s best as we spend considerable time masterplanning every aspect of community living down to the millimetre. “There is always something to improve on and this win gives us the fuel to continue striving for 100 per cent.”
Wide, articulated streets
Also attractive to homeowners is Halcyon’s simple and transparent financial model with no exit fees or stamp duty and proven capital gains on resales for entry and exit affordability. “Australia’s modern seniors want more choice to individualise a home to their taste and lifestyle. They embrace over-50s lifestyle communities rather than a retirement village as they are not hemmed in by cookie-cutter design,” he said. Since 2006, Halcyon communities have earned more than 28 regional, state and national awards, cementing Halcyon as Australia’s most-awarded lifestyle community developer.
Vegetable gardens, bowls and pickleball courts
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE AWARD’S ANNOUNCEMENT VIDEO
SUMMER 2020 | 14
HALCYON GREENS
Halcyon Greens judged Queensland’s best lifestyle PIMPAMA COMMUNITY CELEBRATES A DOUBLE VICTORY
Yvonne Allman, Rob Allman and Sue Davies. Image supplied by News Corp
alcyon Greens, Australia’s H largest lifestyle community, scored a rare double win at the
prestigious Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA) Queensland Awards for Excellence.
The community named the state’s best Master Planned Development, beating out competition from Stockland and Lendlease, as well as being crowned the best Seniors Living Development of 2020. Halcyon’s founders and joint managing directors Dr Bevan Geissmann and Paul Melville were humbled by the win. “Our vision for Halcyon Greens was to create a modern, country club living, the size and scale of which has never been seen in over 50s living,” Dr Geissmann said.
Floodlit tennis and pickleball courts
“Driving everything we do is a deep commitment to delivering an outstanding master planned community with quality homes and an abundance of facilities to keep our homeowners active and socially connected. “Halcyon Greens provides a genuine alternative for downsizers and pre-retirees who want the connection and freedom that a lifestyle community offers.” Tour the $20 million dollar facilities and five display homes.
Direct access to 18-hole golf course
7 Halcyon Drive, Pimpama Open Mon – Sat, 9 – 4pm 1800 626 488
CLICK HERE TO WATCH CH7 NEWS COVERAGE OF THE WIN
One of two treatment rooms
SUMMER 2020 | 16
GIVING BACK
Keeping up the fight
alcyon and Project Director H Marie Cone have been inducted into Queensland’s
inaugural Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Honour Roll in recognition of the Bella’s Sanctuary housing initiative.
The new government program recognises individuals, community organisations, small businesses and corporates doing their part to raise awareness and take action against domestic and family violence. In collaboration with DVConnect and listed property group Mirvac, and with the help of our many suppliers, Halcyon designed, built, funded and then donated the $1.6 million purpose-built home in August 2019, which has since provided a safe haven for many South-East Queensland women and children. Today, Bella’s Sanctuary is owned and run by DVConnect, Queensland’s largest crisis response service. Differing from a shelter,
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Bella’s Sanctuary is a mediumterm accommodation residence where women and children can stay for up to 12 months. Halcyon Project Director Marie Cone said it was an honour to be inducted onto Queensland’s inaugural Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Honour Roll alongside individuals and companies providing incredible work. “On behalf of Halcyon, we would like to congratulate our fellow inductees who are providing life-changing work to end domestic and family violence in our Queensland community,” Marie said. “Bella’s Sanctuary is a testament to the positive change the construction and building industry is having in the fight to end domestic and family violence. Through fundraising efforts, Halcyon homeowners and employees donated more than $50,000 to furnish the home and continue to fundraise to assist DVConnect in running Bella’s Sanctuary.
Marie Cone
A chance meeting with a stranger inspired one of our homeowners to donate to Bella’s Sanctuary To make a donation to DV Connect or Bella’s Sanctuary, please call 1800 811 811 or go to http://www.dvconnect. org/bellas-sanctuary/
THE HALCYON WAY
Halcyon Joint Managing Directors Dr Bevan Geissmann and Paul Melville
Reaping the rewards of hard work uch has been said and M written about 2020, a year which none of us will ever
forget. In true Aussie style, we have all rallied together to make the best of what has been an incredibly challenging year.
It’s been heartwarming to see our wonderful homeowners not only support each other within our communities, but also support a myriad of charities and organisations in the wider community. We have had a number of notable highlights in the past few weeks and months which has given our team, contractors and our homeowners reason to celebrate. Halcyon has taken out a hat-trick of major awards, both national and state-based, cementing our position as Australia’s most awarded lifestyle community developer.
When we create our communities, we don’t set out to win awards. Our primary aim is to create vibrant, active, engaged and connected communities which offer our homeowners the chance to live a lifestyle of friendship, fun and freedom with first class facilities and homes. We must confess, winning is very rewarding and incredibly humbling. We are grateful to our homeowners for all their support in our new and established communities and for putting their faith and trust in us. To be recognised as the inaugural winner of the National Retirement Living Award’s Best Retirement Living Development of the Year for Halcyon Lakeside, one year after taking out the UDIA’s national award for Seniors Living. Halcyon Lakeside is the only community in Australia to have won two prestigious national awards for seniors living.
We are also humbled to have won awards such as the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s (UDIA) QLD Master Planned Community for Halcyon Greens which is open to all developments not just over 50s communities - ahead of major residential players like Stockland and Lendlease is a major feat and one we don’t take lightly. While we will take time to enjoy our award wins, we don’t pay lip service to our promise to create the best communities in the country. Our driving vision is to continue innovating and offering Australian seniors the choices they want and deserve. We are excited to welcome in 2021 and to see our two newest communities B by Halcyon and Halcyon Rise start to evolve and take shape. Thank you again. Dr Bevan Geissmann & Paul Melville Joint Managing Directors.
B BY HALCYON
Flexibility drives the design of luxury new home range focus on flexibility A and choice drove the creation of B by Halcyon’s
newest architect-designed luxury home range, The Daintree.
Drawing inspiration from the lush rainforest-inspired lifestyle of Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, The Daintree range of premium doublestorey homes was designed by Queensland’s Base Architecture. Owner and Director Shawn Godwin said the houses were created around a flexible design principle so homeowners could customise their new homes with an array of options to suit their specific needs. He said The Daintree range encapsulates Halcyon’s goal to help homeowners “right-size” their lifestyle. “This notion of downsizing comes primarily from the idea of kids leaving home,” Shawn explained. “Yes, homeowners may be downsizing from a people point of view but they still have plenty of other things that keep their lives full – hobbies, grandkids coming to visit, a motorbike for weekend rides or a vintage car to restore – and they need the space to cater to their lifestyles.” The Daintree comes with a spacious four-car garage where homeowners can store cars, bikes, jet skis and boats or use as a multipurpose workspace for hobbies,
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projects or extra storage. Alternatively, the layout can be customised to provide for a two-car garage with the added floorspace converted into a luxurious first-floor media room. Shawn said The Daintree’s customisation extended to its exterior appearance with homeowners able to choose between traditional or contemporary facades before adding their own modifications. These can include the home’s statement entry, landscaping, screens and roof style. “We wanted homeowners to inject their personality and preferences into their home’s appearance, but we were also considerate of how they would look side-by-side in a street. So we made sure the design options and modifications all worked together,” he said. “Flexibility and choice drove our design process, whether it was how the homes looked outside or the functionality requirements inside. “Halcyon are leaders in what they do, and they’ve got a product that works really well but, to their credit, they constantly strive to find ways to make it work even better. “The Daintree, with its flexible design, means Halcyon can appeal to a wider range of homeowners and adapt to their specific needs.”
There are only eight Daintree homes available in the release and are priced from $859,000. Visit B by Halcyon Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm, 2 Retreat Drive, Buderim. Call 1800 050 050
SUMMER 2020 | 20
COMMUNITY
Greens’ homeowners hit the jack at twilight BOWLS AT DUSK PROVES POPULAR
Heike Adam, Chris Sergeant, Jenny Bradford, Halcyon Greens
BEGINNER BOWLERS FIND FUN AND FRIENDSHIP
n enthusiastic group of A experienced and new lawn bowlers are enjoying the
warmer weather as Saturday evening twilight bowls under the floodlights at Halcyon Greens becomes a popular attraction.
Club president Norm Hockey said it was an entirely different atmosphere playing in the evening. “First and foremost, you’re out of the heat,” Norm said. “And it’s very sociable, we have a BBQ and drinks afterwards. “It’s much more sociable than playing in the morning because by the time you finish, it’s hot and it’s too early for the bar so you have a cup of tea and go home.” Norm said the club had grown rapidly from inception to more than 110 members in just a few months. “We’ve been running competitions and we organise excursions to different clubs,” he said. “It’s proved quite popular and I think our numbers will grow even more.” Karl Adam, Halcyon Greens
een golfers Karl and Heike K Adam thought taking up lawn bowls might be a great
way to learn a new sport, while also meeting a new group of people at Halcyon Greens. “We had never played it before, but we decided to give a go before Christmas last year,” Karl said. “We were enjoying playing with a group of beginners and decided that we wanted to improve. Karl said they had been playing with the Halcyon supplied bowls, but went and bought their own set of bowls, which gives them
more consistency in their game. “We thought that our golfing days may come to an end, so we really wanted another sport we could get involved with,” he said. Karl said the SaturdayTwilight sessions were a fantastic way to spend the afternoon. “They’re a great group of people to mix with and it’s nice to have a different group of friends outside of the golfers,” he said. “We look forward to getting better and spending more time on the green.”
Norm Hockey, Halcyon Greens
SUMMER 2020 | 22
HALCYON RISE Tanya Gilbert, Halcyon Rise
Your home gallery MEET THE HALCYON TEAM TRANSFORMING HOUSES INTO HOMES Buying a house follows a logical process, turning that house into a home, however, is an intensely personal experience. Guiding new Halcyon homeowners through what can sometimes feel a daunting task is a team of Home Specialists with the LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
empathy and know-how to turn solid and sturdy houses into warm and welcoming homes.
specifications and select the colours, fixtures and finishes that will put a personal stamp on their new home.
Halcyon’s Your Home Gallery is a one-stop-shop for homebuyers to experience the range of highquality inclusions and additions that are part of Halcyon’s signature
Senior Home Specialist Tanya Gilbert says it is a privilege to be trusted with turning a house into a home and an immense reward to see everything come together.
“We look after our homeowners all the way through the process, from buying their home to the first day they move in,” Tanya said. “Once homeowners have chosen their colours and fittings and any modifications and additions, we keep them updated with photos and accompany them on walk-through visits while their home is being constructed.” Your Home Gallery and Home Specialist services are currently available on all new homes being built. Homeowners can add their personal touches through the selection of exterior paint colour, internal colour schemes, flooring options, light
fittings, cabinetry and fixtures. They can also modify their new home’s interior flow and functionality with a range of pre-designed upgrades. “Depending on their house design and layout, homeowners can relocate or add extra power points, they can convert a walk-in linen closet to a walk-in pantry or a walk-in pantry to a butler’s pantry. They can change the bathroom layout, convert multipurpose rooms into dedicated media rooms and extend garages for extra storage,” Tanya said. With so much choice, it is natural for some homeowners to feel a little overwhelmed. This is where Home Specialists
can gently guide the process with understanding and skill. “We often walk through existing display homes,” she said. “We even have homeowners willing to allow buyers into see the design decisions they’ve made.” “We usually ask them what they don’t like first and eliminate that so we can narrow down the selection process.” Tanya said they work from the outside of the house in, having them select the exterior paint first. “There are four colours with light and dark options, so it’s a good place to start – then gently guide them through the interior selections,” she said.
Each interior scheme comes with the option of a Soft or Bold emphasis. Coastal: A beachy feel with cool colour accents, such as mint green, and light timber features.
Urban: A modern, contemporary aesthetic with industrial stylings including a monochromatic palette.
Rainforest: A rich, warm palette including olive and forest greens, with dark timber highlights.
Country: A warm, homey palette of soft colours, such as grey and honey, with timber finishes.
SUMMER 2020 | 24
THE UNRETIRING TYPE
Cruel summer Words by Geoff Shearer A stalwart journalist for News Ltd for 20 years and a former TV Week Features Editor, Geoff Shearer is one the country’s most admired arts and entertainment writers. He’s taken a step into semi-retirement to concentrate on his fiction writing, while relishing the chance to share his unique take on life with My Halcyon Days’ readers.
A
HHHH summer, what sweet recall is served upon thy golden rays.
It really does seem a season for reflecting, particularly after the year we’ve all had!
But there is one reflection I am desperately keen to see much less of poolside – the eyesore that are colloquially known as DTs. Please I beg of you, of all men, to return to wearing those charming chap-friendly swimming apparel known as trunks. Even since Tony Abbott primed his ministerial portfolio in bright red “scungies”, I’ve never been comfortable passing the budgerigar cages in Pet Barn. And the alternative “boardies” have plenty of room for a cockatoo or twelve, but I’ve never mastered entry to a pool without them inflating like some sort of emergency slide from an airplane. The resulting bubbles are colossal. And loud. People stare and point like you’re Sir Lancelot stuck on the side of the road changing a tyre – Flatyou-Lance? Flatulence? Oh never mind.
LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
My point is we need some decorum around our swimwear. And trunks are the answer. Remember when they were trendy? Well, not really since the 1910s, I suppose. But anyway, it’s time to look to the past to preserve our modesty. Summer’s always about reminiscing. And not just about what we wore to the pool. It is about where we spent summer holidays as a kid; the Christmases and cricket matches and castles in the sand. Even the songs were all about looking back at fun in the sun, and summer loves. Don Henley reckoned he was a better catch than those boys of summer; Richard Marx’s summer nights were endless; Bananarama thought it cruel that summer was gone. The Motels suddenly remembered they’d forgotten last summer; Alice Cooper was just glad to be out of school; Bryan Adam’s favourite summer was the summer of ’69; and good ol’ Olivia Newton John thought summer days were for drifting away, but, oh oh, how damn fine were those summer niiiiiiiiiiiiiights. If only her Danny, of course, ditched the DTs and packed a pair of trunks for the beach.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Friendship, fitness and fun PERSONAL TRAINER NICK GETS THE BEST OUT OF HOPE ISLAND HOMEOWNERS
Nick Hammond, Halcyon Waters and Vision by Halcyon
ersonal trainer Nick Hammond P is a welcome and familiar sight around Halcyon Waters and Vision by Halcyon in Hope Island.
Each week he trains homeowners in a number of classes including Stronger for Longer, Invigorate, Revive and Aquarobics. “I love being able to guide them and encourage them to get more active,” he said. “It’s great because moving the body makes you feel younger, helps with mental health and you get to socialise plus they are lots of fun.”
Nick said he gets a full history from each homeowner when they come to their first class to ensure safety. “I ask them if they are following any medical advice or if they have any injuries just so I am aware of what they can and can’t do,” he said. “They are very vocal and let me know how they’re feeling during every class.” He said one of the homeowners, named Catherine, hated going to the gym and preferred to spend her time in the pool.
“One day it was too rainy to do aquarobics, so I convinced her to give a circuit class a try and now she’s hooked,” he said. Nick said Revive is a great class for homeowners who are new to exercising or haven’t done it for a number of years. “It’s a great class because it involves the use of a chair and incorporates similar movements to an aqua class,” he said. “It’s easy and gentle and you use your body weight to get a good workout.”
Nick’s top tips for staying fit and healthy this summer •
•
Get up and move! Go for a walk everyday or if you’re less mobile, get into the water as it supports your weight. It’s all about balance. Indulge in the festive season but try and eat as healthy as possible the majority of the time.
•
•
Enjoy a glass of festive cheer but stay hydrated. Have a glass of water between every alcoholic drink if you can. Don’t go on any fad diets when the new year rolls around. Try and have lean proteins, good carbs and natural sugars and fibre. SUMMER 2020 | 26
COMMUNITY
Blockbuster hits entertain the crowd WHY PAY TO GO TO THE MOVIES WHEN YOU’VE GOT YOUR OWN PRIVATE GOLD CLASS-STYLE CINEMA AT HOME? Susan Sargeant, Jim Gall, Eleanor Scully, Chris Popplewell, Lila Reid and Chris Green
omeowners at Halcyon H Greens have wasted no time in making the luxurious cinema
their own, using the Kaleidescape streaming technology on offer.
“We started training people on how to use the system each Tuesday and then made sure we had one trained person on hand for each movie session,” Jim said.
The group is headed up by Jim Gall, “We’ve trained people on how to use the system, so it’s a former high school mathematics and physics teacher with a penchant running quite well now.” for action films and is assisted Jim said the most popular film by a keen group of movie buffs. to be screened is The Good Liar, starring legendary British actors He said a few of them got together Helen Mirren and Ian McKellen. when the cinema opened a few months ago and they set “It’s been shown around 20 about developing protocols and times and had about 20 private policies, screening times as well as organising a roster for each session. screenings,” he said. “It’s a good one, it has a real sting in the tail.”
Movie poster, Warner Brothers 2019 film
WHAT IS KALEIDESCAPE
THE CINEMA SPECS
The Kaleidescape 4K Ultra HD Luxury Home Cinema is the only digital content source in the world that offers minimally compressed audio, and video that is more faithful to the studio’s version.
• The cinema has 40 seats with electric recliners and refrigerated cupholders
Using the brand’s Strato movie player, Kaliedescape offers 11,000 movies including Star Wars, Psycho, Indiana Jones, concerts, documentaries, and other conte nt.
• The screen is 6m wide x 3.3m high with 4k quality • A Krix audio system has been installed for block-buster surround sound • Kaleidescape movie streaming service for access to the latest movies prior to Australian release • All iPad operated for easy use by homeowners
It uses 4K Ultra HD video where available, lossless audio, and Dolby Atmos for great sound from the content provider. A dedicated 40TB server, and mobile app viewing.
• Acoustic reverb side panelling behind black curtains
ROCKY HORROR DRESS UP The group recently had a fun night where they broadcast the original cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show with homeowners attending dressed as their favourite characters.
Darrel Cramer
Jeff Rose
Chris Popplewell
Chris Green with Julie Miller
SUMMER 2020 | 28
LIFESTYLE
Good thymes in the garden TURNING A GREEN THUMB INTO A PASTIME IS GOOD FOR YOU AND THE GARDEN
Words by Graham Goody
Judy and Graham Goody, Halcyon Landing
LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
S
ome people play tennis, some swim, others play in the garden. Gardening is a physical activity everyone can do and we can all benefit from getting out in the sunlight.
I grew up on a pineapple farm. Later I had an engineering business in Maroochydore and also worked on my avocado farm on weekends, so I’ve had a fair bit to do with working on the land. My wife, Judy, is as involved in the garden as me because she was the main gardener and I was the labourer at our previous place. We had five hectares, so there were a fair few gardens! At Halcyon Landing, there are several gardening areas that include raised garden beds in a community garden, a separate garden that also houses a chicken coop and beehives, and several homeowners also grow their own produce in their backyards. I moved to Halcyon Landing two years ago and the garden beds and fruit trees were already well established. I’ve recently taken over as one of the new gardening team coordinators at Halcyon Landing, which basically means overseeing what’s happening in the community gardening area and its eight garden beds. There are around a dozen of us on the
team who are involved in tending their own garden beds, selling the fresh fruit and veg at our Friday afternoon markets or using the produce to make marmalades and relishes. It’s a mixed bag, but we all work together harmoniously. We grow the fresh produce that people want to use regularly and sell it cheaply to cover our expenses and buy fertilisers, new soil and sprays for the garden. At the moment we are growing tomatoes, lettuce, radishes, spinach, beans and silverbeet. Our citrus trees have been going gangbusters this year and have just started fruiting, so in a few months we’ll have lemons, oranges, mandarins and cumquats as well. There are so many benefits to growing your own fruit, herbs and vegetables. Along with the physical, mental and economical benefits of gardening, if you have an interest in something and you can find a way to express that interest, then that’s good for you, too. Our gardening team works simply but organically. It’s a village atmosphere where everyone pitches in and helps. I think everyone benefits from the community garden – we like playing in the dirt and people get cheap veggies! SUMMER 2020 | 30
Move-in ready homes priced from $389,000
THERE’S NEVER BEEN A BETTER TIME TO MOVE TO HALCYON GLADES. Construction is now complete and the Halcyon Glades community life is full of fun, friendship and freedom. Enjoy private open space and a two minute walk to the 5-star facilities. At these great prices final homes won’t last long. 34 Ardrossan Road, Caboolture. Phone 1800 814 567 or simply Google ‘Life begins at Halcyon’
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A CARAVAN AS HOMEGROWN TRAVEL GROWS IN POPULARITY
Words by Matt Kurvink, General Manager, Bushtracker Caravans
Flinders Ranges, South Australia
caravan really is your home away A from home – it’s somewhere comfortable where you have your own bed, pillow, food and other things you are used to, which makes the trip a lot more relaxing when you’re not living out of a suitcase.
to five caravan builders who you feel can build the right caravan for your needs, then go on factory tours to see the construction process and inspect the product quality. You want to have the confidence that the van you decide to buy is going to meet your needs in the long term.
It’s worth investing in a quality, heavy-duty caravan that is built to last and fully self-sufficient with solar power and the capability to carry a lot of water, especially if you plan to go around Australia or travel to remote regions.
Bushtracker Caravans specialises in luxury off-road caravans. Each caravan is completely customised to the owners’ specifications and in 25 years of operation, we’ve never built two vans that are the same.
My advice is to take the time to do your research. Narrow your search
Our customers have some really interesting road trips on their bucket lists. Many want to go up to Cape
York and do The Savannah Way in Queensland as well as drive through the Kimberley region or from Perth to Broome in Western Australia. A lot of people are keen to do the desert tracks at least once, such as the Tanami Desert in Western Australia and the Donohue Highway from Queensland’s Simpson Desert to the Northern Territory border. My favourite caravanning location is the outback. I love just getting out there and camping. There’s nothing quite like sitting by the fire in the outback and seeing how many stars are up in the sky because there are no city lights around you. SUMMER 2020 | 32
TRAVEL
Get ready to roadtrip
New home, new life from $375,000 Halcyon Rise is a 100-acre lifestyle precinct designed exclusively for over 50s. From sunrise to sunset be energised by a range of lifestyle facilities and conveniences. It’s relaxed country living only 30 minutes from Brisbane.
Open for inspection
Monday to Saturday, 9am - 4pm 8 Halcyon Way, Logan Reserve Call 1800 050 580 or simply Google
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Rhonda and Arthur Fletcher, Halcyon Waters
Ballroom blitz “Sure he was great, but don’t forget that Ginger Rogers did everything he did … backwards and in high heels.”
T
he fabulous quote is often miscredited to the actress herself, but it featured in a cartoon in the Los Angeles Times alluding to the fact her job was harder than her silver screen co-star.
For Rhonda and Arthur Fletcher from Halcyon Waters, it’s truly a team effort and Rhonda said if it wasn’t for her husband – she probably wouldn’t have begun dancing in the first place. “I had a girlfriend who was doing it and I wanted to give it a try, but I didn’t want to go by myself so I dragged Arthur along,” she laughed. Nine years later the couple are
fully immersed in the ballroom dancing scene, regularly having private lessons, attending classes each week and participating in their studio’s dance parties. They have even travelled to Canberra to compete in the American Style Dance and Competition (ASDAC) Outback Crown, an annual event which sees dancers of all ages and levels descend on the nation’s capital to compete and participate in master classes. “We didn’t go down to win anything, we wanted to experience it and see some amazing dancers who do a showcase,” Rhonda said. “It was terrific fun and well worth the trip.” The couple attend classes at a local Hope Island studio, Fifth Avenue Dance, where they credit their teacher Maki
COUPLE SHINE BRIGHTLY ON THE DANCEFLOOR Soto for her support and encouragement for their continued progress. They have worked their way through dance examinations to Silver 3, one of the top levels of the ASDAC curriculum which includes styles such as foxtrot, tango, swing, cha cha, rhumba, merengue, bolero and most recently they learned how to do a Viennese Waltz. “It’s just great exercise and it’s something we get to do together,” she said. Arthur added: “It’s been a wonderful way to meet new friends, to socialise and to be able to do something outside of the gates.” “And it doesn’t matter if you think you have two left feet, you can learn at your own pace and you’d be surprised at what you can actually achieve.” SUMMER 2020 | 34
RECIPES
Summer fruit sweetens celebration SUMMER IN AUSTRALIA MEANS HOT DAYS, BALMY NIGHTS AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, FRESH SEASONAL FRUITS ARE IN ABUNDANCE. WE’VE TAKEN THE BEST OF QUEENSLAND’S SEASONAL FRUITS TO MAKE TREATS DESIGNED TO IMPRESS AT YOUR NEXT FESTIVE CELEBRATION.
Festive wreath pavlova Method
Ingredients a 6 x egg whites (room temperature) a 1½ cups caster sugar a 1½ tsp white vinegar
1. P reheat oven to 150°C. Draw a 22-25cm circle on a sheet of baking paper and place on baking tray. 2. P ut the egg whites into a clean and dry stainless steel mixing bowl or into electric mixer bowl and whisk on high speed until stiff peaks form. 3. A dd the sugar 1T at a time, allowing 30 seconds between each addition. Scrape the bowl and whisk until stiff and glossy. LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
a 2 tsp cornflour a 375ml pouring cream a 1 x punnet strawberries (cut in half)
4. P lace the cornflour and vinegar in a separate bowl and mix to combine. Add to the meringue and whisk for 2-minutes or until glossy and combined. 5. P lace 12 heaped spoonfuls of the meringue mixture around the tray inside of the drawn circle to create a ring. Swirl slightly with back of a metal spoon. 6. R educe the oven temperature to 120°C and bake for 1-hour
a ¼ cup pomegranate seeds a 2 x figs a 4 sprigs mint
or until crisp to the touch. Turn the oven off and allow the pavlova to cool completely in the oven with the door closed. 7. W hip the cream and spread generously over cooled meringue. Place the cut strawberries, pomegranate seeds, figs and mint leaves over pavlova to resemble a wreath. 8. S erve with ice-cream if desired.
Banoffee Pie
Tropical cheesecake in a jar
Peach lemonade with nectarine and mint
Ingredients
Ingredients
Ingredients
a 1 x packet biscuits a 125gm butter, melted a 2 x bananas a 300ml double cream a Shaved chocolate
a 12 plain biscuits (Arnott’s Marie or Granita) a 250gm block of Philadelphia cream cheese a ¼ cup caster sugar a Juice of a fresh lime a ½ cup thickened cream a 1/3 cup sour cream a 2 x fresh passionfruit pulp a Diced fresh mango a 6 x small Mason jars
a Peach-mint simple syrup a 2 x cups diced ripe peaches a 1 cup caster sugar a 1 cup water a 1½ cups roughly chopped mint leaves
Dulce de leche (caramel) filling a 1 x 395gm can sweetened Condensed Milk a 1/3 cup brown sugar a 50gm butter
Method 1. F inely crush biscuits and add butter, combine well. Press biscuit mixture into cake tin and firmly press mixture over the base. Place in the fridge until required. 2. T o make filling, place condensed milk, sugar and butter in a saucepan over low heat. Cook, stirring constantly for 10-12 minutes or until caramel thickens (do not boil). 3. P our filling over base into the tin. Cover and place in the fridge for one hour to chill. 4. P eel and slice bananas and arrange over the filling. Top pies with a dollop of double cream, sprinkle the shaved chocolate and serve immediately.
Method 1. B lend biscuits in a food processor or blender and divide the remaining between 6 small jars/glasses. Reserve some crumbs for decoration. Using electric beaters, beat softened cream cheese with caster sugar until smooth. 2. A dd sour cream and lime juice to the cream cheese mixture and beat to combine. Add thickened cream. Continue to beat until smooth and creamy. 3. D ivide between jars. Cover and chill for 1hr 30 min. Top with reserved crumbs and serve with fresh passionfruit and mango.
Lemonade a 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice a 4 cups cold water (or sparkling water if you want it fizzy) a Ice a Add chopped white peach and nectarine to serving glasses.
Method 1. I n a medium saucepan, combine peaches, sugar and water. Bring to a boil, simmer about 5 minutes until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, stir in mint, and let cool for about an hour. Strain through a sieve, pressing on solids to release juices. Discard solids. 2. I n a large pitcher, combine all with 4 cups cold water, to your personal sweetness/tartness preferences. Pour into icefilled glasses garnished with diced peach and nectarine and a sprig of mint, if desired. SUMMER 2020 | 36
PEOPLE
Family ties GENERATIONS COME TOGETHER TO LIVE AT HALCYON
he “Sandwich Generation” is a T term which surfaced in the last decade and refers to Baby Boomers
who have reached an age where they may still have children in their 20s and elderly parents who need care.
These families have found solutions at Halcyon to suit their circumstances, as well as be able to enjoy the active, social and secure lifestyle they deserve after years of hard work. “It was meant to be,” Andrew Ford says as he stands in his new Halcyon Landing home, unpacking the final few moving boxes. The former jet-setting investment banker, 53, and his wife, Angela, may have only moved in a few days earlier but their connection to the Bli Bli lifestyle community spans eight years.
Angela and Andrew Ford, Halcyon landing
Andrew’s parents, Jan and Ken Ford, were among the first homeowners to move into Halcyon Landing, buying their home off-the-plan when they relocated from Adelaide to the Sunshine Coast. “They were the third people to move into Halcyon Landing and they still live in the same house they bought eight years ago,” Andrew said. “We got to know the community and its facilities really well over the years, visiting my parents almost weekly. “When we decided to downsize, we looked at Halcyon Landing, effectively to be closer to my parents but also to enjoy the lifestyle they’ve been enjoying for the past eight years.” When Andrew and Angela decided to sell the sprawling Yandina Creek home they built on two acres, a rapidly unfolding series of events delivered them a dream home at Halcyon Landing in record time. Their house sold within a week of it listing so Angela popped by the sales office the next morning to register the couple’s interest in one of the community’s larger-style houses. To their good fortune, a homeowner had visited two hours earlier to tell the sales team he planned to move interstate and sell his house.
Angela and Andrew Ford with Jan and Ken Ford, Halcyon Landing LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
“It was one of the largest houses in the community and right next to the tennis court and recreation centre so it ticked all our boxes,” Andrew said. “Like I said, it was meant to be!”
MOTHER AND DAUGHTER MAKING THE BEST OF LIFE AT GREENS
t might just be an ordinary ITrussell afternoon, but centenarian Emma is wearing her pearls and
Chris and her husband Paul.
“Everyone is so lovely here and has expertly applied her red lipstick. this home does three people very nicely,” she said. It’s a routine the 103-year-old does “It’s great for Chris and Paul most mornings as she holds court because there are a lot of people on her front porch with a cup of tea, here their age so they can keep watching her neighbours walk by. busy and live a nice life.” “She sits up like the Queen,” her Chris said the arrangement suited daughter Chris Sergeant said. “When them as she and Paul participate in a she celebrated her 103rd birthday lot of activities and events on offer. recently, lots of neighbours turned up to celebrate and Peter (Fahey) “It’s so nice because we’re only serenaded her with his guitar.” ever five minutes walk away from the house,” she said. “I’d much Emma said she loved living at rather be here than be stuck in the Greens and was grateful to be suburbs with nobody around.” able to share her home with
CARING FOR AN AGED LOVED ONE DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN’T LIVE YOUR BEST LIFE Words by Rita Merienne, founder of Aged Care with Ease, a support network for carers We are all living longer and our caring responsibilities are lasting longer. Carers can often be consumed by their caring responsibilities and delay living their best life, doing what they want or even practicing self-care. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Being part of a support network shines a light on areas that will ease your journey. You don’t know what you don’t know! A couple of the biggest issues I see is that carers give up their lives to care for their aged loved one and that people only plan for aged care (theirs and yours) when an emergency happens. Some tips to ease the caring journey are: •
Start estate management early for your aged loved one and for you – this involves power of attorney, enduring guardianship and Advanced Care Directives. You and your aged loved one will have the choice of who you/they want, not someone else that doesn’t know you/them which is what will happen if you don’t have the documents in place and something happens. Do it early for peace of mind for all.
•
Living a lifestyle that meets your expectations is a matter of identifying, creating, communicating and maintaining caring boundaries.
•
Self-care isn’t selfish it is knowing what your self needs to live your best life and helps you meet your caring responsibilities.
• Take a break before you break. Every situation is different and there are different solutions for every situation. Note: The reason I started Aged Care with Ease is because I was on the caring journey with my father and there were many things I did the long or wrong way. I felt alone and that I didn’t have any support. Things had to change so I decided to be that change.
Emma Trussell and Chris Sergeant, Halcyon Greens
www.agedcarewithease.com SUMMER 2020 | 38
BOOKS
Book club
With Judith Masters, Halcyon Lakeside
Judith Masters, writing as J Mary Masters, has written three novels - the Belleville trilogy - which is soon to become four Belleville books. Each of the titles - Julia’s Story; To Love, Honour and Betray; and Return to Prior Park are held in each Halcyon library. To read excerpts from the novels, go to www.jmarymasters.com. At the end of 2017, Judith (known as Judy Hinz in this context) stepped down as publisher of Australian Defence Magazine although she continues with a backroom role in a part-time capacity. Image credit, Sherran Evans
Traitors and Spies
“Espionage and corruption in high places in Australia, 1901-50.”
Published by Allen and Unwin, RRP $34.99 in paperback
In his latest book, former intelligence officer John Fahey charts the ‘long and difficult struggle to create an ethical, professional and well-managed counterespionage organisation in Australia’, culminating with the establishment of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) in 1949. The necessity of being able to police the Immigration Restriction Act 1901 (the White Australia policy) was the initial motivation to establish a security service. Fahey reveals the dark underside of Australian politics, including the persecution of innocent civilians and procedural corruption, as Australia’s fledgling security intelligence system struggled with poor leadership, under resourcing, bureaucratic incompetence and, inevitably, a brawl over who would control the internal security intelligence system in Australia. Fahey has delved deep into national and international archives to produce this devastating indictment of Australia’s security services in those early decades before the formation of ASIO
Elizabeth Macarthur
“A Life at the Edge of the World.”
By Michelle Scott Tucker, Published by Text Publishing, RRP $32.99 in paperback
In Kate Grenville’s novel ‘A Room Made of Leaves’ we get a fictional account of Elizabeth Macarthur’s life but my preference is for Michelle Scott Tucker’s meticulously researched biography of this elusive figure in Australian history. Elizabeth Macarthur’s story begins with her marriage to a handsome, haughty and penniless army officer John Macarthur in 1788. By June 1790, she found herself with a husband and a small child on the other side of the world, in the penal colony at Sydney Cove. Her husband, lauded as the man who established the Australian wool industry, was difficult, quarrelsome and erratic in his behaviour. Through it all, it was Elizabeth who managed the family’s interests and whose diplomacy papered over the worst of his diplomatic failings. A fascinating, faithful portrait of a remarkable woman.
The Sister’s Gift By Barbara Hannay, Published by Penguin, RRP $32.99 in paperback
Author Barbara Hannay lives in Townsville so the setting for her latest novel will come as no surprise, although the story does begin on the Sunshine Coast. It is, however, Magnetic Island that is the picturesque backdrop to this story, which I am sure will be an excellent way for lovers of romantic fiction to while away a sunny afternoon. The story revolves around two sisters, Pearl and Freya, Pearl’s daughter Billie and the secret the sisters share. Over the years, the tensions and misunderstandings have built up between the sisters in a way we can all understand. What family is not bedevilled by misunderstandings and imagined slights? This family story unfolds amidst more twists and turns with some thought-provoking themes that will linger in your memory.
LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
UNDERSTANDING HOME OWNERSHIP IN LAND LEASE COMMUNITIES
Words by Danielle Lim, Principal of DSL Law ome ownership within seniors H living communities share many similarities with the traditional image people may have about owning a home in the suburbs, such as the ability to benefit from capital gains. However, there are several key differences in how the ownership is structured, along with a raft of protections to ensure residents within land lease communities are well looked after.
Most people think of traditional home ownership as a house in the suburbs in which both the home and the land under it are owned and registered on the title. Structurally, a home in a land lease community may look identical to a traditional house. However, there is a key difference in how it has been built. Namely, these homes are “designed so that they can be relocated.” For this reason, the home itself is owned by the resident in a land lease community, while the land under it is leased or rented from the owner of the community.
implemented during the pandemic. There are also significant protections to prevent site agreements being ended without the homeowners’ consent. The result of this government legislation is that living within a land lease community is a very secure form of home ownership. Living within a land lease community shares many similarities with traditional ownership. When your home increases in value since you first bought it, you will be entitled to the capital gain, just as you would be with a traditional house. Additionally, the site fees that you pay cover the costs of community facilities, such as swimming pools, gyms and gardens, much like the body corporate fees an apartment owner would pay.
Whether you plan on embarking on your retirement journey in a traditional home, a retirement village or a land lease community, selecting your home and your community will always be a big decision. Take your time, research the options, talk to your friends and family, and get the right financial and legal advice to ensure the community you select is just right for your own personal circumstances. If you would like your questions about downsizing answered by an expert, email my@halcyondays.com.au
Where you choose to live during your retirement is always going to be a very important decision. Seniors now have more choices than ever before.
Not owning the land under your home is very different to more traditional home ownership and may initially seem like a foreign concept. However, land lease community residents are highly protected under government legislation, such as the Manufactured Homes (Residential Parks) Act 2003 QLD. This Act ensures that your lease or site agreement complies with strict standards, including how your rent or site fees can be increased. An example of the government’s rental protections within land lease communities was seen in September 2020 when special COVID-19 measures were enacted which limited the site rent increases that could be
Plac
Danielle Lim
SUMMER 2020 | 40
LIFESTYLE
Ask the Expert
SOCIALS Kensi, AWLQ
Miguel Diaz, CEO Parkinson’s Queensland
Angie and Athol Gibson
Ann and Roy Beattie
Charlie, AWLQ
Susie Longman, Cancer Council Australia
Charity Thank You Event - Gold Coast HALCYON GREENS, 12 NOVEMBER 2020 ute puppies and inspiring speakers from three charities C gave the last Friends of Halcyon event for the year a special atmosphere. Our three Gold coast communities banded together to give $25,000 to charities, taking the annual total to $111,500 for all Halcyon communities.
LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
Chuck and Zelda Pairama
SOCIALS
Dale and Patricia Little
Tricia Taylor and Colleen Watts
Dianne Spencer from The Salvation Army
Ken and Judy Harper
Ivan and Kym Hansen
Dr Jane Thompson from DVConnect
Charity Thank You Event - Sunshine Coast B BY HALCYON, 10 NOVEMBER 2020 uests enjoyed refreshments under the stunning marquee G on the lawn. Generous homeowners from our Sunshine Coast communities donated $11,500 to a number of charities through the Friends of Halcyon referral program.
Judy and Warren Evans
SOCIALS Sue Everon
Sue Hadenham and Irene Hurley
Jo and Ossie Feiner
Michael Pert
David and Carolyn Sergeant
Brian and Wendy Mosley
Lyn Lamble
Melbourne Cup B BY HALCYON, 3 NOVEMBER 2020 omeowners at Buderim’s only lifestyle H community made quick work getting to know each other at the very first Melbourne
Cup event. A beautiful floral media wall was the perfect backdrop for photos, while guest enjoyed a lovely lunch under the marquee.
LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
Lyn Lamble, Sue Hadenham, Irene Hurley, Cheryl McAllister and Wendy Mosley
SOCIALS
Teddy O’Neill, Lorraine Brace
Doug and Barbara Conn
Gail Wogan, Sandy Chadwick
Pam and Ray Downes
Margi Davy
Trevor Renn, Lyn Shields
Marlene Mason, Lorraine Brace
Melbourne Cup HALCYON LAKESIDE, 3 NOVEMBER 2020 omeowners at Halcyon Lakeside H are no strangers to fun Melbourne Cup Day events and 2020 was no
exception. A wonderful day was had by all at the Bli Bli community, which has also just been named the national winners of the Property Council’s Best Retirement Living Development. Fay Baumann, Robyn McLaughlin, Helga McCracken
SOCIALS Neil and Patsy Richards
Melbourne Cup HALCYON GREENS, 3 NOVEMBER 2020 omeowners embraced the day H with two events in the Recreation Club and The Lodge. With a new take
on Fashions of the Field, the Halycon Greens’ Fashions by the Pool showcased the community’s most stylish.
Cathy Stevenson
Glyn Jones and Julie Miller
Ann and Ray Ryan
Chris and Rex Bell
Heike Adam
Jeff and Carolyn Rose
Helen and Barry Holmes
Noel and Susan Proudfoot
Gerry and Lesley McKenna
Julie and Rob Miller
Janet Jones
Phil Wregg
SOCIALS Ray Clegg, Varmi Geyl, Barnie Machen, Paul Outtrim, Peter Michael
Halcyon Masters Golf Day VIRGINIA GOLF CLUB, BANYO, 7 SEPTEMBER 2020 t was the first time all Halcyon Icome communities had the chance to together this year, and was a
great day to share stories and connect with each other. Team winners on the day were from Halcyon Parks, but special mention goes to the golfers from Vision by Halcyon who organised such a successful day.
LifeBeginsatHalcyon.com.au
Men’s winner: Murray Thomas
Women’s winner: Sue Spellicy
Trevor Renn and Garry Boulton
Jenny Boylan
Dave Lonergan
Ray Carter
Bryan Brady
Sue Davies and Heike Adam
Avalyn Muller and Kaye Lonergan
Halcyon communities
Judged Australia’s best lifestyle communities...
Thank you
Please phone 1800 626 488 for more information on our communities.
Nestled in the foothills of Buderim and wrapped in sub-tropical rainforest, B by Halcyon offers a retreat to nature just minutes from beaches. Here, you can lose yourself in creative pursuits, a health and wellness journey or the sense of community. 2 Retreat Drive, Buderim (off Whites Road) - Display homes open 9am-4pm, Monday to Saturday
Halcyon Greens GAINSBOROUGH GREENS - PIMPAMA
Downsize to an acreage lifestyle 30 minutes from the Brisbane CBD. Located in Logan Reserve and set on 100 picturesque acres fronting the Logan River. This sprawling community is tribute to the traditional South East Queensland lifestyle amid open spaces, rolling hills and with deep agricultural roots. 8 Halcyon Way, Logan Reserve (off Logan Reserve Road) Welcome Centre open 9am-4pm, Monday to Saturday
Halcyon Lakeside BLI BLI
Located 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 the UDIA. 1 Halcyon Way, Bli Bli - open 9am - 4pm – Homes available, inspection by appointment
Enjoy country club living at Halcyon Greens, Australia’s first golf and lifestyle community designed for over 50s. The 84 acre community is surrounded by an 18-hole golf course, and overlooks natural wetlands and nature reserve. 7 Halcyon Drive, Pimpama - Display homes open 9am - 4pm, Monday to Saturday
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 - Homes available, inspection by appointment
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.
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.
11 Grant Avenue, Hope Island - Homes available, inspection by appointment
27 Waigani Street, Bli Bli - Homes available, inspection by appointment
Halcyon Waters
Halcyon Parks
HOPE ISLAND
CALOUNDRA
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.
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.
1 Halcyon Way, Hope Island - Homes available, inspection by appointment
42 Meridan Way, Caloundra - Homes available, inspection by appointment
Share your
Halcyon
DAYS
Spring 202
0
GREEN TRIFE
CTA
Saving the earth and saving your money
Want to share your Halcyon Days with us? Send your story to my@halcyondays.com.au
RISE EARL Y BIRDS Logan locals excited for their next chapte r
NO WOR
RIES
Homeowners TV stars become for a day
ANIMAL
RESCUE
Life is better
SEIZE THE
with a pet
DAY
Exploring new and old passion
s
WINNER 2018 HIA Queensland Specialised Housing
SUMMER 2020 | 50
Judged Queensland’s best lifestyle
Thank you
Halcyon Greens has been awarded Queensland’s best in Seniors Living and Master Planned Development 2020 by the Urban Development Institute of Australia (UDIA).
Come and discover why Halcyon Greens is Queensland's best lifestyle. Display homes open Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm, 7 Halcyon Drive, Pimpama To arrange an inspection simply google 'Life begins at Halcyon' or phone 1800 050 580 No Exit Fees
No Rentals
No Stamp Duty
Australia's most awarded lifestyle communities
No Hidden Fees
No Worries
