The
Quality Cut CABOOLTURE
Issue Three | October 2017
Top Tips for Cruise Ships Richard & Robyn Cooper share their travel advice
Successful Spring Cleaning 5 ways to get started
Your Country Club Construction is full steam ahead www.livinggems.com.au | 1800 288 918
Live the Lifestyle you deserve! The Quality Cut – Caboolture Issue Three – October 2017
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Sales Manager’s Message Welcome to the Living Gems Caboolture October newsletter. Our big news of the month is that due to popular demand, our newsletter is becoming a monthly edition! In addition to our social media, this is an excellent forum for all the latest updates and news our resort has to offer, so watch this space! It has been a very busy few months at our resort as we have welcomed new residents, and watched the clubhouse take shape. Construction of the resort facilities are tracking well, and we will be regularly featuring a facility each month from now on, so you can really get to grips with all the luxury at your disposal.
As of the beginning of season, there are 70 homes occupied in Living Gems Caboolture, so we are well on our way to the 304 homes that will make up our wonderful resort upon completion.
adventure to RSPCA Dakabin and
As the winter begins to fade, we expect the local property market to heat up. There will be increased activity now that we have entered spring and that is set to continue through the summer months.
fabulous tried and tested recipe for
We have the pleasure of printing some fantastic resident stories in this issue. Robyn and Richard Cooper give us some of their top travel tips for smooth cruise ship sailing – a plethora of knowledge amassed over a dozen trips!
back – he even escaped the sales office twice that day! You will also find a few handy hints for a successful spring clean and a bread and butter pudding that will leave your mouth watering. I hope you enjoy this latest edition of our newsletter! If you would like to take advantage of a personal tour of our resort, or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the sales team. Sherry McOmish Sales Manager
As part of our beloved pet section, we also meet Helen and John Rae’s two cocker spaniels, Harry and Charlie. Harry is just back from a big
You’re Invited... to join us for BBQ brunch Join us for a sumptuous bbq brunch. Meet and greet your new neighbours and discover our fabulous new homes and five-star resort facilities. Please RSVP to confirm your attendance by Wednesday 11 October. Call Sherry on 1800 288 918 or email at sherry@livinggems.com.au to book.
Fob’s your uncle! One of our resourceful residents has invented what he calls an EGO – abbreviated for Extended Gate Opener. All of our residents are issued with a fob to swipe open the electronic gates when entering the resort and some have had a little difficulty reaching the sensor from their car. Hence the invention of the EGO. Jim and Carolyn Kanowski have designed this delightfully ingenuitive tool – a piece of garden hose with the fob on the end anchored by wool fed through the hose from fob to plug. With their wonderful sense of humour, they have named this little tool the “EGO” and have since created an upgraded model with more length that they call the ‘Inflated EGO’.
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The Quality Cut – Caboolture Issue Three – October 2017
176 Torrens Road, Caboolture, Brisbane North Qld 4510
Thrills n Grills Recently, the Social Club at Living Gems Caboolture hosted a big BBQ bash funded from the sale of goods by the residents. The BBQ was a highly successful evening enjoyed by the masses. Over 65 residents attended the event that was conveniently held in the caravan compound and everyone enjoyed the lashings of food and raffle prizes. Here’s to the next one!
A Home in One The joy of owning a Living Gem’s home is that the property is yours to do with as you wish. Whilst Living Gems properties might not have the room for an entire golf course, there is certainly enough room to practice! In Richard and Robyn Cooper’s garden, they are making the most of the space by indulging Richard’s passion – and by the looks of it – the grandkids’ too! www.livinggems.com.au | 1800 288 918
The Quality Cut – Caboolture Issue Three – October 2017
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Kotor Montenegro
In the Spotlight
Richard & Robyn’s Top Tips for Cruise Ships Living Gems Caboolture residents, Richard and Robyn Cooper have done 13 cruise ship journeys in recent years, and already have another three lined up before March 2018.
“Coming into Liverpool, the number of people we could see on the shores and standing waist-deep in 9 degree water waiting and waving for us as we came in was unbelievable,” said Richard.
“At Living Gems, everything is taken care of”
Incredibly, on that trip the Coopers met a neighbour from home who had lived nearby for years but they had never met – they’ve now completed eight trips together.
They have travelled on all three of the Cunard Cruise Line ships – RMS Queen Mary II, MS Queen Victoria, and RMS Queen Elizabeth – as well as six cruises on Princess liners, two with Royal Caribbean, and another on a luxury European river cruise. The trips have created plenty of great memories, including being on board for the Cunard’s 175th anniversary trip in 2015, when all three of its vessels entered Liverpool’s River Mersey and completed a synchronized 180° turn.
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The Quality Cut – Caboolture Issue Three – October 2017
Richard said: “We just like seeing different parts of the world and cruise ships are one of the best ways of doing that.” The Living Gems Caboolture residents’ last cruise to the Mediterranean was cut short after Richard suffered a broken ankle whilst descending the 1,350 steps of Montenegro’s Kotor Fortress, but that hasn’t shattered the Coopers’ enthusiasm for travelling on ships.
Highlights have included days in Barcelona where they climbed to the top of the unfinished La Sagrada Familia (the Basilica and Expiatory Church of the Holy Family). “It was absolutely fantastic and unreal,” said Richard. On viewing the other works of the iconic architect Antoni Gaudi, Richard went on to say that: “the vision he had was just unbelievable.” Up next for the Coopers is a trip around Tasmania in December, followed by New Zealand in February, and Dubai in March. Given the amount they travel, the Coopers appreciate the security provided by Living Gems when they’re not home. “It’s one of the main reasons we chose Living Gems,” said Richard. “Back when I was on a quarter of an acre, we had to organise people to look after our property. At Living Gems, everything is taken care of.”
176 Torrens Road, Caboolture, Brisbane North Qld 4510
Mykonos, Greece
The Colosseum, Rome
Richard & Robyn enjoying business class on Emirates The Leaning Tower of Pisa
on’t set sail without D travel insurance A broken ankle prematurely ended Richard’s last cruise. Lucky for him however, his travel insurance covered the business class trip home and also reimbursed him for the two weeks of the trip he missed. Give expensive airport transfers the heave-ho Richard has found that he can get cheaper transfers by shopping independently from an agent. He recommends Suntransfers as an affordable and reliable option. Find your sea legs with plenty of stops Richard says that it can be boring spending many nights at sea, so try to pick a cruise with plenty of ports. The Coopers’ trip to the Mediterranean had only three nights at sea! www.livinggems.com.au | 1800 288 918
Commandeer the best deals With the advent of the Internet, searching for travel deals has never been easier. Websites like Cruise Finder and Cruise Guru are great, but don’t book with them. Flight Centre will beat any price by an Australian competitor by $1. So find what trip you want to do and then go to Flight Centre for the best price. Booking with a reputable travel agent certainly gives you peace of mind too. eep your health on board K With so many people sharing a confined space, it stands to reason that the risk of people falling ill is very real. Richard and Robyn recommend cruisers only use their own toilet, refrain from touching hand rails where possible, and regular hand washing.
The Quality Cut – Caboolture Issue Three – October 2017
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FACADE 2
Emerald
FACADE 1
This utter gem of a home, is a stylish threebedroom with a stunning open plan living and dining area. Boasting a designer kitchen with top quality appliances that will please even the most ambitious chef, this home is a real eye-catcher. Complete with a walk-in pantry and gorgeous alfresco and private garden, this home is a true all-rounder. • 3 bedrooms
• Walk-in wardrobe
• 2 bathrooms
• Remote control double garage
• Ensuite
• Air-conditioning If you would like more information about this home or to arrange a viewing, call 1800 288 918 today.
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The Quality Cut – Caboolture Issue Three – October 2017
176 Torrens Road, Caboolture, Brisbane North Qld 4510
5 Starters for a Successful Spring Clean Spring is here, and that means it’s time to get rid of the winter clutter and get your home ready for the warmer months ahead. Here’s Living Gems top 5 tips for a delightful declutter: 1. Make time Everyone is busy, but that shouldn’t be an excuse to avoid a good spring clean. If you’re a chronic procrastinator for menial chores, book yourself in for a ‘declutter date’ in the calendar. You don’t have to spend the whole day, but spend at least an hour or two on it. No excuses!
2. Set goals Before you start randomly picking things up and throwing them into the bin, think really hard about what you want to achieve by decluttering. Do you want to make more room in a specific space? Are you getting rid of that excess downsizing gear? Or are you looking to make a little bit of clean-up cash? The more specific your goal, the more likely you are to achieve it.
3. Get inspired A good spring clean sometimes needs inspiration. There are plenty of books and blogs on decluttering and most of the home shows on TV also have plenty of tips and tricks to take note of. Remember: another man’s trash is another man’s treasure! So, don’t be afraid to put your clutter
on websites like Gumtree or Facebook Marketplace to earn yourself some easy pocket money.
4. Question everything There’s a strong chance you already know what you want to get rid of before you start a spring clean. Perhaps you’ve become sick of looking at the old golf clubs in the garage that have been gathering dust over the last five years? Don’t just declutter the obvious objects; question everything you own. Ask if the item brings you joy, if it’s useful, and think hard about the last time you really used it.
5. Keep it up Even if you carry out the most efficient spring clean, chances are your home is going to fill up with unwanted stuff again. With that in mind, it’s really important to declutter at least once a month. Plus, the more you clean – the less you’ll have to do next time.
If you’d like advice on how to get ready for your move into Living Gems Caboolture, feel free to give us a call on: 1800 288 918 or email: sherry@livinggems.com.au
Living Gems Social Scene At Living Gems, we’re all about community. We already have an incredibly active social scene, so if you would like to get involved with other wonderful like-minded residents, come along to one of these regular weekly activities. Don’t forget to read your Village Flyer written by your superb Social Club manager, Marie Arps. Marie has her finger on the pulse of the www.livinggems.com.au | 1800 288 918
resort and is your go-to expert on all things social at Living Gems Caboolture. We’ll be working closely with Marie to ensure that your social events and activities get the publicity they deserve! So, if you have any photos or news you’d like to share within the newsletter – we are all ears! Send your photos and stories to: editor@livinggems.com.au
Have you seen a Living Gems workshop in action? https://youtu.be/VZTIdR051wU Find us on YouTube for a sneek peek into what you can do in our workshop.
Did you know that we have a Facebook page? Find us at www.facebook.com/ LivingGemsAus and click follow to be kept up-to-date with the latest and greatest news and fun. The Quality Cut – Caboolture Issue Three – October 2017
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The bowls club
The Jewel in our Crown Construction is steaming ahead with our pride and joy, the Living Gems clubhouse. Cabooltures clubhouse really will be the heart and soul of the resort, housing all manner of exceptional facilities that have been carefully tailored over the years to suit the needs and desires of our residents. For more regular updates and to view our fantastic flyover aerial footage, make sure to follow our Facebook page.
The workshop is underway The tenpin bowling alley
Looking through the clubhouse to the bowls green
The tennis court
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The Quality Cut – Caboolture Issue Three – October 2017
176 Torrens Road, Caboolture, Brisbane North Qld 4510
Our Living Gems At Living Gems, we’re a community inside and out. We love getting to know our resident stakeholders, so here’s an opportunity for you to get to know us better too. A family-run business through and through, Living Gems would be nowhere without its staff members and we like to make sure they know that they’re appreciated. Here you can learn a little about their backgrounds and why they love working for Living Gems.
TJ Whatarangi has been with us for over three years and within that time we have seen him grow, develop and flourish into a fantastic member of our team. TJ came to us as a student whilst he was still in the process of gaining his Master’s degree from Griffith University. During his degree, TJ covered an enormous array of architectural designs from housing and commercial projects to public works and even bridges. TJ now heads our growing design team and here he tells us a little about himself:
that variety that I believe shapes my enthusiasm and ability. What do you most enjoy about your role? TJ: I love the variety. Every project is different and it’s always an ongoing journey to design a client’s home to their exact requirements – it’s something that I really enjoy. One thing that I’ve found is that I don’t spend a lot of time on variations. Living Gems homes tend to have all the best features – that wouldn’t normally be included in similar homes – already offered as standard. My role is almost like that of an interpreter; I have to extract a client’s ideas and translate that into the home’s design. Sometimes it’s easy; sometimes it can be challenging but on every occasion, I just get the tracing paper out and go for it. Problem solving is a skill that I use in terms of weighing up solutions to a client’s request without having it impact on other parts of the design. I work with a fantastic team who are all very supportive professionally and personally. I love working with people which is why I’m always happy to sit down with our clients and work out what’s best for them.
Why did you decide to become a designer? TJ: For as long as I can remember, I have always loved art. Whether that’s with pen and paper or electronically, I have always been creative. Choosing architectural design as a career was a fantastic way for me to marry my skills and passion with a strong and respected profession. What inspires you? TJ: There’s definitely no singular answer to that question! To try and get myself ‘in the zone’, I tend to just pick up a pen and start drawing. Even if it’s nonsensical doodling, it tends to help me focus. Just drawing, screwing the paper up and then starting again really helps me move forward. I take inspiration from a very wide range of architectural projects and it’s
What is your favourite Living Gems home? TJ: Funnily enough I have one that immediately comes to mind! I really like the Gemstone as despite its relatively conservative overall meterage, it feels enormous inside. The clever positioning of the three bedrooms and double garage makes the home feel light and airy. Plus, with the efficient use of space there’s
Your resort www.livinggems.com.au | 1800 288 918
more opportunity for variations and creativity in addition to being excellent value for money. What do you like to do in your spare time? TJ: I love exercising and going to the gym – purely because I also love food, so it has to be a careful balancing act. When I’m not watching footy with the family, I enjoy socialising with friends which is definitely made easy considering my apartment is on top of a brewery with regular visiting food trucks! Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time? TJ: I don’t even know where I’m going tomorrow! But really, I’m hoping I’ll be right here. We have so many exciting projects coming up in the future and I want to see that continue. I’m really looking forward to growing with the company and seeing us thrive. If you would like to speak to one of our sales people regarding your home, please contact Sherry on 1800 288 918 or email sherry@livinggems.com.au
by the river The Quality Cut – Caboolture Issue Three – October 2017
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Talking Pets
Keeping up-to-date with our residents is very important here at Living Gems Caboolture. As a pet friendly resort, we see our animals as part of the family – so in this section of our newsletter, we catch up with our more hairy residents. Names Harry & Charlie
Harry: We’re Cocker Spaniels, half-brothers and utterly distinguished gentlemen.
Harry: I felt like doing a little sightseeing, so I went on an epic adventure last week and ended up at RSPCA Dakabin, which as I’ve now found out isn’t the holiday resort I was hoping for! John and Helen didn’t realise I was missing for six hours, and in that time I managed to get lost, ride in a tradie’s ute, escape the sales office twice, and then taken to a vet in Morayfield before getting a ride to Dakabin. Luckily, I had recently been registered to my new address so could be tracked to my rightful home!
What is your favourite toy? Harry: We’re far too mature for puppy toys these days. Which part of Living Gems Caboolture do you enjoy the most? Harry: John and Helen weren’t the only people who got a brand new home; I was lucky enough to receive a new kennel – I spend most of my day in it lounging around. Charlie: I’m very happy on the patio off the side of the kitchen. The sun shines down onto the tiles in the afternoon, and it’s a very comfortable place to get some well-earned R&R. What’s your most annoying habit? Harry: We’re lovely old geezers with very few bad habits…or at least that’s what we tell ourselves.
Charlie: I’d always wanted a pet of my own, but unfortunately, I didn’t do my prior research because the tick I brought home decided to make me very sick for several days. After breaking John and Helen’s bank account, I recovered quite quickly. Who treats you best? Mum or Dad? Charlie: We love them both equally, but Mum is good cop…and Dad is definitely bad cop. Living Gems Caboolture is a pet friendly resort that promotes active lifestyles and welcoming communities. If you are interested in Living Gems Caboolture and would like some more information, contact: Sherry on 1800 288 918 or email: sherry@livinggems.com.au
Charlie: I’m a good boy! I don’t have any bad habits!
Caboolture Living Gems Line Dancing Group The Quality Cut – Caboolture Issue Three – October 2017
Sex Male
Do you have a standout moment?
Charlie: Lamb necks for sure. When John and Helen picked us up from the pound a decade ago, our teeth needed some attention. The dental plan in the big house is pretty average. After chewing lamb necks for years, we can safely say that we now have bright white celebrity smiles despite our age.
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Parents John & Helen Rae
What type of dogs are you?
What’s your favourite food?
Harry and Charlie
Age 13 & 12 years
Caboolture Living Gems Walking Group 176 Torrens Road, Caboolture, Brisbane North Qld 4510
Library and Book Exchange Get stuffed with Living Gems Luxury bread and butter pudding We all have very sweet teeth here at Living Gems– so what better way to hide from the last of the cool months than by stuffing oneself silly with delicious desserts? This pudding is traditional, incredibly easy, and 100% mouth-watering. Pair it with some vanilla custard and you’re well on your way for a post-meal snooze in front of the TV. Preparation time: 15 minutes
Cooking time: 30 minutes
Ingredients: • 4 eggs • 1/2 cup caster sugar
Serves: 6
• 8 thick slices of bread (you can choose whether to remove crusts or not)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 /2 cup sultanas (or chocolate chips if you prefer)
• 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 2 tbsp golden sugar
• 2 cups milk
• 3 tbsp marmalade (optional)
• 300ml pure cream
• C ustard or ice cream to serve (optional)
• 40g butter, softened
Method • P reheat oven to 180°c/160°c fanforced. Grease a baking dish. • W hisk eggs, caster sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, milk, and cream in a bowl. • S pread both sides of each bread slice with butter. Cut each slice in half diagonally. • A rrange half of the triangles in rows in prepared dish. • S prinkle with half the sultanas. Repeat with remaining bread and sultanas. • P our egg mixture over bread. Sprinkle with golden sugar and cover with marmalade if using. www.livinggems.com.au | 1800 288 918
Ken and his wife Ellen open their homes to other residents once a week to run a book exchange and library service whilst the country club is under construction.
YOU ARE INVITED
g n i n r o M Tea WEDNESDAY 10AM
• B ake for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden and set. • Serve with hot or cold custard.
Chef’s top tips: • O riginally, this recipe was used with left-over old and stale bread. You can use fresh bread, stale bread, hot-cross buns, brioche or even panettone! If you have a recipe that you’d love to share with us – send it through to the Editor at: editor@livinggems.com.au
If you are interested, get in touch with us via phone
1800 288 918 or email sherry@livinggems.com.au
here
ou t We hope to see y
The Quality Cut – Caboolture Issue Three – October 2017
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What’s on
October
IN YOUR RESORT Mixed Walking Group Mondays & Thursdays at 7:00am Meet at the front gate
Discover: Find My Past Friday 13 October, from 9:30–11am Caboolture Library
FREE
Learn how to trace your ancestry using Find My Past. Explore basic site navigation, discover the type of records you can access, and learn how to effectively search and save records.
Movie in the Park Saturday 14 October, from 5–8:30pm Deception Bay Sports Centre
FREE
Pack a chair, a picnic rug, and a grandchild or three to take part in this excellent evening of free family fun with a special outdoor screening of kids movie, ‘Minions’.
New and Used Market Saturday 14 October St Laurence’s Anglican Church, Caboolture South
FREE
A lovely market held on the second Saturday of every month from March to December. A great variety of items for sale from cakes, biscuits and jams to toys, plants and bric-a-brac.
Sunday Sesh on The Deck Sunday 15 October The Deck Bistro, Banksia Beach
FREE
Finish your weekend on the right note with live music performances every Sunday from 12:30pm on the deck accompanied by our delicious new tapas menu.
Knitting for the Needy
Mahjong Mondays at 1:00pm Enjoy a game or two with your neighbours
Bingo Mondays at 1:00pm Join the fun with a gold coin donation
Get Crafty Wednesdays at 9:30am Get crafty and have a chat with other like minded residents
Library & Book Exchange Wednesdays from 10:00am to 4:30pm Read all about it, swap books and stories with your fellow neighbours
Line Dancing Thursdays at 9:30am at the Marquee Come and join the fun for an hour with tea and coffee after
Tuesday 17 October, from 12:30–3pm Caboolture Library Meet some new friends and contribute to the community, whilst doing something you enjoy. All your creations are donated to those in need.
FREE Generate Creative Arts Festival Saturday 21 October – Sunday 22 October, from 10am-4pm, Caboolture Hub
FREE
Live performances from talented musicians, dance performances, art and installations, fun palaces and handmade displays from glitter body gel to macramé hangers and origami.
Mixed Lawn Bowls Fridays at 11:30am Meet at the Resort Bus
Yahoo Happy Hour Fridays at 4:30pm BYO chairs, drinks & nibbles. Local papers on the table plus villa tickets and raffle.