6 minute read
Green Trifecta
Hitting the ‘green trifecta’ at Halcyon Greens
MAKING THE MOVE TO HALCYON GREENS IN PIMPAMA HAS ALLOWED THE BLUNDELLS TO GET ONE STEP CLOSER TO THEIR AIM OF HAVING A ZERO-CARBON FOOTPRINT
Ross and Allison Blundell, Halcyon Greens
The Blundells have a Tesla battery wall, 5kw of solar panels on their roof which has been constructed with sustainable and energy efficient materials such as Hebel and to cap it off – they also own a Tesla car.
Ross Blundell said Halcyon’s focus on building energy efficient communities, as well as finding a place which would suit their active lifestyle, was a huge factor for he and wife Allison when buying a home at Halcyon Greens. “Owning a new home with all the sustainable features we consider important, the beautiful outlook over the golf course, and the many amenities and opportunities, such as tennis court, workshed, gym and swimming pools,” he said. “We also protect the environment through sharing facilities rather than owning things individually. “For example we can borrow tools from the workshed, utilise the vegetable garden and as living here allows for less travelling with so many facilities on-site.” Ross said their energy output had been substantially reduced since moving into their home, which overlooks the Gainsborough Greens golf course. “Previously our daily electricity usage averaged around 11.0 kWh per day, now we are averaging around 1.0 kWh per day,” he said. “The cost comparison isn’t simple because we also had solar in our previous home with a very good feedin rate, however our average daily cost was $1.00 per day compared to a credit of $2.70 per day at Halcyon Greens.” Ross said buying the Model 3 Performance Tesla, a “red one because everyone knows red goes faster” was a no-brainer and completed their “green trifecta”. “We are both sick of supporting the fossil fuel industry that is destroying our planet and polluting the atmosphere,” he said. Allison added: “A large part of Ross’ working life was developing sustainable energy projects which was a large motivator from the early 2000’s to own a sustainable vehicle. “We strive to have a zero-carbon footprint and to be socially responsible in everything we do. “And quieter vehicles make for more livable communities.” Their Tesla 3 is an all-wheel drive sedan 5-star safety rating, minimalist and comfortable interior with a totally flat cabin floor, excellent performance from its torque and rapid acceleration. “Perhaps the most practical advantage of the Tesla is its expected reliability and longevity owing to its simpler drive train which does not require regular maintenance and major repair expenses including our first service is not due for three years,” he said. “It also has some quirky features like a fireplace, karaoke and fart mode, which the granddaughters think is hilarious.” The pair are thrilled at their new life at Greens, citing the caring people they have met, the safety and security of the community and exploring new hobbies and interests we would not have had access to. “Life at Halcyon Greens brings a sense of peace and quietness not found in the suburbs,” Allison said. “It also provides a safe and inviting environment for grandchildren, which was a very important factor in choosing Halcyon Greens.”
The Far Side is back
Words: 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.
Remember that cartoon panel showing a woman in curlers fast asleep with a cat on the end of her bed and a dog outside the slightly open window whispering: “puuuuut the caaaaaat ouuuuuuuuut. … puuuuut the caaaaat ouuuuuuut. …”
Or the cat looking into the laundry dryer which has “CAT FUD” crudely written on the open door and the dog hiding against the wall with the thought bubble: “oh please, oh please...” You would have seen them in newspapers, in anthologies, on greeting cards, desk calendars and coffee mugs. It was The Far
Side – that crazy world created by US cartoonist Gary Larson.
A world where cows walked upright; babies could fly; and where obesity was the norm for everyone, from little boys in striped T-shirts and women in floral house dresses to tinyheaded men in lab coats with pen pockets. It was huge through the 1980s and ’90s, continuing for years after Larson officially retired the strip in January 1995. And then, only a few months ago, Larson, now in his 70th year on this weird planet, surprised fans with some “new stuff” on what he called a “corner” of his website. There are only a few new panels (for now) but what is interesting is what got Larson drawing again. It was that new-fangled, dangif-it-don’t-work-on-electrissy thing called a digital tablet. As Larson explains on his blog: “I got one, fired it up, and lo and behold, something totally unexpected happened: within moments, I was having fun drawing again ... I simply had no idea how far these things had evolved.” Fittingly, as he says, the first thing he drew was a caveman. “I hail from a world of pen and ink, and suddenly I was feeling like I was sitting at the controls of a 747.” It is a great lesson that creativity is not only adaptable with technology, but also that it doesn’t lose its strength no matter how long it has been dormant in you. In Larson’s case that was 25 years. So if you had a creative pursuit in your past, now’s the time to stoke the embers and see where it will take you. But don’t forget to puuuuuut the cat out first…
School ties jump the ditch to Greens
OLD CHUMS END UP AS NEIGHBOURS 50 YEARS AFTER GRADUATION
The world really is a small place and old school friends Tony Philpot and Lindsay McKinley are living proof.
Tony and his wife Alison, originally from New Zealand, recently moved into Halcyon Greens when she got talking to their new neighbour Carol. “Carol is a Kiwi and we started talking about where we’re from and I said ‘my husband is from Christchurch’ and she said ‘my husband is from Christchurch,’” Alison said. “We worked out they had both gone to Burnside High School and had graduated one year apart.” It turned out the pair had been friends back in school, with Tony graduating in 1968 and Lindsay in 1969. “We were in different years, but we did know each other,” Tony said. Notable alumni from their alma mater, which is one of the largest schools in New Zealand, include former NZ Prime Minister John Key, former All Black and member of the 2011 Rugby World Cup winning team Andrew Ellis and the former chief executive of Air New Zealand Rob Fyfe. Lindsay and Tony hadn’t seen each other since school days, but remarkably had both made the move to Australia within a year of each other in the late 1980s. Both settled with their families and children in Brisbane, building successful careers and businesses until making the decision to downsize to Greens. Lindsay and wife Carol have been living at the Pimpama community for almost 2 1/2 years, selling their chain of home brew shops after enjoying the lifestyle. “When we moved in, I drove in here in my home brew truck and it caused quite a bit of interest,” Lindsay joked. “We love living here, there are so many activities to enjoy and the people in the community are terrific.” Tony said they were looking forward to getting involved in lots of activities including pilates, aquarobics, line dancing and the gym. “We’re excited about being here, “ Tony said. “We’re looking forward to starting the next chapter of our lives.” And of course that includes a beer or two with their neighbours.
