The
Quality Cut PACIFIC
PARADISE
Issue Three | October 2017
Clubhouse Update It’s finally here
In the spotlight A white Christmas
Feature Facility: Bowling green
Live the Lifestyle you deserve!
We’re continuing to put the final touches on our resort over the upcoming months, with the tennis court, swimming pool, and bowling green having been completed and now ready for action! This is a fantastic achievement and we are very proud to once again create facilities that are exceptional and offer our residents the best of the best. We now have only 46 homes left to build here at the resort, so the final countdown really is on. I would also like to draw your attention to our referral program. If you have friends or family who are interested in the Living Gems lifestyle, refer them to us! If they go on to purchase a home with us, you will receive a cash bonus upon completion as a way to say thank you! We would truly be nowhere without our fantastic residents.
General Manager’s Message Sales Manager’s Message Welcome to the Living Gems Pacific Paradise October newsletter. It has been a busy few months at our resort, as we make preparations for the upcoming grand opening.
It sounds like a lovely trip – it’s not
Have you ever dreamt of a white Christmas? Living Gems Pacific Paradise residents Michael Holder and Karen Hawkings did, and they made it happen last year on a trip to Germany!
Belgian barge dog, Mollie. You
During the winter, it’s like a fairy tale in Germany – it is that pretty. Disney artists have gained so much inspiration from the wintertime castles of Deutschland, and Michael and Karen saw a few of them. They also toured Austria over the New Year period, and celebrated the start of 2017 from the Von Trapp family home, as seen in The Sound of Music.
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The Quality Cut – Pacific Paradise Issue Three – October 2017
If you’d like any more information, please do get in touch with our fantastic Sales Team. If you are not currently living in Living Gems Pacific Paradise and are interested in seeing it for yourselves, our team would be happy to arrange a tour at your convenience. Vlad Pullich General Manager Living Gems
Fancy a dip? As we’re blessed with such outstanding weather in Queensland, it is fair to say that no resort is complete without its very own swimming pool!
too late to book your own Northern Hemisphere Christmas, if you are that way inclined. In our new pets section, we meet Charlie and Inga Somers’ lovely might have seen her around the resort; she loves going for walks with her mum and dad each day. Our newsletter has now become a monthly edition! That means you’ll be kept up to date with all the latest and greatest Living Gems news and gossip – we hope you enjoy it. If you ever need anything, feel free to contact either myself or resort manager Tim Moore, and we will do our best to assist. Victoria Dent Sales Manager 596 David Low Way, Sunshine Coast Qld 4564
It’s Love at Living Gems Pacific Paradise The tennis court is now in play at our gorgeous resort! We pride ourselves on providing resorts that service all manner of activity levels, so if you’d rather sit down with a glass of wine at the bar, rather than competing for that match point, that’s ok too! For a true advantage: bring the grandkids to act as your ball boy/girl during the school holidays and you’re all set to have them tuckered out an in bed by 7pm! For more information on our resort’s many facilities, contact our Sales Team on: 1800 279 782 or email at: victoria@livinggems.com.au.
Whether you prefer relaxing in the shallow end or doing endless fitness laps, our swimming pools will cater for all desires. Our solar heated and partially covered swimming pool and spa allow you to take a dip whenever you want – rain or shine.
Oops! We’ve shown your hand, ladies! We’re not sure who ended up being the winner here, but it certainly looks like everyone was having a lot of fun. If you haven’t played before, Mahjong is a tile-based game that originated in China during the Qing dynasty. Similar to the game of Rummy, Mahjong is a game of skill, strategy, calculation, and involves a degree of chance. Our resorts have an incredible social community that is always friendly and welcoming to newcomers, so if you’d like to be involved, there are plenty of opportunities to come along and meet like-minded others. To join us for one of our regular get-togethers, contact our Sales Manager, Victoria Dent, on: 1800 279 782 or email: victoria@livinggems.com.au. www.livinggems.com.au | 1800 279 782
The Quality Cut – Pacific Paradise Issue Three – October 2017
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The Quality Cut – Pacific Paradise Issue Three – October 2017
596 David Low Way, Sunshine Coast Qld 4564
It’s finally here! Our beautiful clubhouse will be making its debut opening on Thursday 19 October. We’d like to thank everyone for their unstoppable enthusiasm and excitement throughout the building of this superb structure. At the time of printing this newsletter, we will be carrying out the final touches on the bowling green, swimming pool and overall tying together the utter opulence of this exceptional building. Residents have been lucky enough to utilise some of the facilities already, so it’s incredibly exciting to finally turn the page into completion. Well done to all our teams who worked tirelessly on this mega project, today you can stand back and truly be proud of what you have achieved!
www.livinggems.com.au | 1800 279 782
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In the Spotlight
A White Christmas in Germany and Austria Dreams of a white Christmas inspired Michael Holder and Karen Hawkings to travel to Germany at the end of 2016, a country that captures the spirit of the season like no other.
“It is a big world, and we would like to see as much as we can.” The Deutschland Christmas charm is showcased at its wintertime markets and beer halls where the amber liquid flows freely and the wine is served warm and with spice.
the spirit of Christmas just as we had imagined they would.” “It was our first Christmas in the northern hemisphere. We always wanted a white Christmas and New Year, and it was very nice to get the opportunity to see that alongside a group of really nice people on our tour.” The Living Gems Pacific Paradise residents flew to Frankfurt to pick up the tour, and visited Bamberg, Nuremberg and Rothenburg ob der Tauber, which is often called a “fairytale dream town” because of its romantic medieval architecture.
Michael and Karen did the Christmas and New Year period with Albatross Tours, first with a 7-day tour around Germany, followed by a five-day Sound of Music-themed New Years journey around Austria.
In many ways, it is the archetypical country German town, and it was the inspiration for the village in the 1940 Walt Disney movie Pinocchio. Another Disney inspiration, the Neuschwanstein Castle, was also part of the tour.
“It was a wonderful trip,” says Karen, “the scenery was spectacular, and the markets were very special – the food was delicious – and they captured
Karen and Michael then travelled on to Füssen, in the Bavarian Alps, where they spent Christmas. From Füssen, the couple travelled on to Munich,
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The Quality Cut – Pacific Paradise Issue Three – October 2017
via Lucerne in Switzerland, where they linked up with another Albatross Tours group for a seven-day trip around Austria, themed around The Sound of Music. The group was based out of Salzburg, where most of the Sound of Music was filmed, and toured the surrounding areas. From Salzburg, the couple visited Salzkammergut in the Austrian Lakes District; St. Gilgen, where they caught a cable car to the top of Zwölferhorn Mountain, and experienced a horse and carriage ride in the snow from the ski resort of Filzmoos to Oberhofalm. Leopold Castle, which was the Von Trapp family home in the film, was the venue for the New Year’s Eve festivities. It overlooks a small lake into which the Von Trapp children fell out of a rowboat in one of the film’s most memorable scenes. It’s hard to imagine a more picturesque way to celebrate the beginning of a new year than with a light snowfall as fireworks burst in the sky over a frozen lake. 596 David Low Way, Sunshine Coast Qld 4564
Coolum “We didn’t get a ‘white Christmas’ but we were very lucky that it began to snow that afternoon, it made our day and created a really beautiful atmosphere as we watched the fireworks.” Later in the year, the couple participated in a Scenic Tours river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam and then visited Italy and Sicily. And the busy couple was preparing for a trip to Japan on the day they spoke to the Living Gems Pacific Paradise newsletter!
This beauty of a floorplan offers outstanding features that would keep any occupant happy as Larry. Offering two bedrooms and two bathrooms, this home gives you plenty of bang for your buck, the open-plan kitchen and dining area blends seamlessly out onto a large alfresco that is perfect for entertaining friends and family. A large garage ensures that you have plenty of space to store any excess furniture after downsizing – it really does tick all the boxes. If you’d like to learn more about this outstanding floorplan, please contact us on: 1800 279 782 or email at: victoria@livinggems.com.au.
As Karen says, “there are so many places to see and things to do. It is a big world, and we would like to see as much as we can.” If you would like to contribute to our Resident’s Spotlight section in a future newsletter, contact the Editor at: editor@livinggems.com.au.
www.livinggems.com.au | 1800 279 782
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It’s the Final Countdown: Resident Homes There’s only 46 homes left to build here at Living Gems Pacific Paradise. As you can see from the photos, frames are still popping up left, right, and centre, so it’s only a matter of time before the entire resort Is complete. Congratulations to all those who are moving into the resort shortly, you’ll be sure to love it just as much as our other residents. We are incredibly proud of the craftsmanship that goes into our quality builds, so here’s to the final few! If you’d like more information on upcoming and current homes for sale at Living Gems Pacific Paradise, contact our Sales Team on: 1800 279 782 or email at: victoria@livinggems.com.au.
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The Quality Cut – Pacific Paradise Issue Three – October 2017
596 David Low Way, Sunshine Coast Qld 4564
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.
Brittany Topliff, our Interior
What brought you to Australia?
Design Assistant speaks with
BT: Well, it was actually on a whim! I wanted to travel, so I came over on a working holiday visa and loved it so much that I ended up staying. I then continued my education by doing a diploma in business. I’m now living with my Aussie boyfriend and our dog.
us about her life, loves, and Living Gems experience. Having moved over from the US three years ago, Britt brings her unique, fresh and timeless style to our very fortunate design team. How did you get into interior design? BT: I was always interested in the arts in high school. I continue to love drawing, painting and for my final high school thesis I did a mixed media project. One of my teachers first suggested that I get into either architecture or interior design – I applied for the two courses and got into both! I went on to study at Kansas State University with a fouryear bachelor’s degree and graduated in 2013.
What inspires you? BT: I love classic lines with a fresh lift. I have always sought inspiration through traditional design that is mixed with modern updates. What do you most enjoy about your role? BT: For the creative side, I love planning and working on display homes and equally, working on the technical side of things as I have quite a strategic mind. I always keep the design principles of space, form and function close to my heart. We have a lot of variety day to day, so there’s plenty of dynamic challenges to face.
What do you like to do in your spare time? BT: I spend a lot of time doing yoga, gardening and painting. My boyfriend is big into surfing so we end up spending a lot of time swimming at the beach. Where do you see yourself in ten years’ time? BT: Other than a stay-at-home dog mom, I would like to still be designing and a long-term goal is to set up a collaborative project with multiple different artists. If you would like to speak to one of our sales people regarding your home, please contact Victoria on 1800 279 782 or email at: victoria@livinggems.com.au.
5 Ways to Stay Sane on Moving Day Most of our Living Gems residents decide to move into our resorts because they are forward-thinking and looking to reduce the amount of work required to run their homes by downsizing. If you’re looking to move into one of our fully managed, hassle-free resorts, take a look at these top tips for moving home:
But many of us don’t fancy shelling out the money, or want to move in stages. If you have a tow bar on the back of your car, you can hire a trailer for just $50 from local service stations for a whole 24 hours. If you don’t have a tow bar – websites such as Gumtree often have private truck listings available for low prices.
your new place fully-assembled, but as long as you keep track of your screws in these bags, rebuilding it will be a breeze! You’ll thank yourself later and quickly be able to identify which screw goes where. Who needs instruction manuals?!
Photograph the back of your gizmos before you unplug them
Cut carry-holes in your boxes
Save boxes and simply leave your socks and shirt in the chest of drawers – and cling wrap the whole thing! The drawers won’t fall out and smack you in the shins and all you’ll need to unpack at your new home will be a sharp pair of scissors.
Nobody wants to waste time trying to figure out how that pesky red cord fits into the back of the computer. By photographing the setup beforehand, you’ll have a simple guide that shows you what goes where. You’ll be able to get back on Foxtel in no time!
Hire a trailer or truck If you’re lucky enough to hire removalists – then good for you! www.livinggems.com.au | 1800 279 782
Use scissors to cut a small hole on each side of the box so that you can get a good grip. This will make life much easier. The last thing you want is a stack of boxes, two flights of stairs and your grasp slowly slipping…
Put screws and bits in labelled sandwich bags Let’s face it, that Ikea dresser you bought a few years back probably won’t make it through the door of
Tape drawers shut – with everything inside
Living Gems Pacific Paradise resort promotes active and healthy lifestyle living where you can meet like-minded others. For more information, call: 1800 279 782 or email: victoria@livinggems.com.au. The Quality Cut – Pacific Paradise Issue Three – October 2017
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Talking Pets
Name
Age
Sex
Parents
Mollie
14 years
Female
Charlie & Inga Somers
Keeping up to date with our residents is very important here at Living Gems Pacific Paradise. 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. What type of dog are you? Mollie: I’m a Belgian Barge Dog – a Schipperke. The nickname comes from the days when we would assist horse-drawn barge owners in Europe by nipping at the heels of the horses and guarding the barge at night. What’s your favourite food? Mollie: I’m happy eating whatever my parents feed me! Whether it’s dried biscuits or meat – I’m not fussy – I am a dog, after all. What is your favourite toy? Mollie: I’m getting on in years now, so I don’t play as much as I used to. When I was a puppy, however, Charlie and Inga’s daughter gave me a stuffed reindeer that for years was my favourite toy. I would run around with it and sleep with it – we were best mates! He is still hanging around after 14 years, but like me, he’s taking it easy these days. What’s the best part of the resort? Mollie: My parents will take me for two walks a day and I love going for a roam around the resort and
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surrounding areas. Usually, Charlie will walk me to the newsagents in the morning to pick up the newspaper. We will also go to the off-leash area by the river at Bli Bli, which is a lot of fun! Your most annoying habit? Mollie: I’ve been assured that I am a lovely dog with an excellent nature, I do however, like to scrape pebbles around the garden. What’s your best moment? Mollie: Recently, I was hungry and curious to know what the pebbles tasted like, so I ate about a dozen of them. Mum and Dad had to take me to the vet where I was given some horrible medication to help me pass them – it was highly embarrassing. Living Gems Pacific Paradise is a pet friendly resort that promotes active lifestyles and welcoming communities. If you are interested in Living Gems Pacific Paradise and would like some more information, contact: Victoria on 1800 279 782 or email at: victoria@livinggems.com.au.
Furnishing You with Style All our resorts are masterplanned, from residents’ homes, through to the facilities, and of course the stunning clubhouses. The clubhouse of Living Gems Pacific Paradise is just one example of the extraordinary effort that goes into producing a structure that is both beautiful and functional. The exceptional interior design in our clubhouses is an enormous component of our resorts that reflects both
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. 596 David Low Way, Sunshine Coast Qld 4564
Get stuffed with Living Gems Prawn bruschetta with chilli, ginger and garlic
This is a recipe for those who like a little spice in their life without having to go to much effort. Perfect as an appetiser for dinner parties, or for supper when you just can’t be bothered making anything with too many ingredients. Preparation time: 15 min Serves: 4 Cooking time: 5 min
Ingredients: • 4 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil, plus extra for drizzling • 1 thumb-sized piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
the luxury feel and level of craftsmanship involved in its creation. Recently, the clubhouse was styled with its outdoor furniture which is already being utilised by our wonderful residents for socialising and games. If you’d like to arrange a tour with our Sales Team, contact us on: 1800 279 782 or email at: victoria@livinggems.com.au.
• 1kg large, whole, raw tiger prawns, tails left on and peeled • 1 punnet cherry tomatoes, plunged in hot water and peeled • Juice of 2 lemons
• 3 large cloves of garlic, peeled and finely sliced
• A handful of flat lead parsley, roughly chopped
• 2-3 fresh red chillies (depending on your spice preference), de-seeded and finely sliced
• Sea salt and freshly ground pepper
Method:
• Season to taste. Serve immediately over toasted ciabatta.
• Into a large, hot frying pan, add the oil, ginger, garlic, chilli and prawns • Fry for approximately 3 minutes, then turn the heat down and add the peeled tomatoes and lemon juice. Toss well to combine. • Scatter over chopped parsley with a good drizzle of olive oil. Stir through the prawn mixture and remove from the heat.
• 4 long slices of ciabatta bread, toasted
Chef’s top tips: • Pair with a nice dry white wine and a relaxing TV show. • Remember, the smaller the chilli, the spicier it tends to be! If you have a recipe that you’d love to share with us – send it through to the Editor at: editor@livinggems.com.au.
Gem of a Home: $538,000 The Marcoola design is a stylish two bedroom home with a stunning open-plan living and dining area. It boasts a designer kitchen, with top quality appliances and a lovely alfresco with private garden. • 2 bedrooms, 1 study • 1 bathroom, 1 En suite • Walk in wardrobe
• Remote control 1 car garage • Air conditioning
Call 1800 279 782 or email: victoria@livinggems. com.au for more information or to view our stunning range of homes. www.livinggems.com.au | 1800 279 782
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What’s on
October Sunshine Coast International Fashion Festival Friday, 20 Oct to Saturday, 21 Oct The Events Centre, Caloundra
$65
The Sunshine Coast International Fashion Festival’s vision is to shine the spotlight on Sunshine Coast labels while presenting national and international labels alongside. This is the perfect location for fashionistas participating in fashion week circuits.
FREE Friends Trivia Night Noosaville Library, Wallace Park Estate, Wednesday, 8 October 6–8:30pm Join the Friends of Noosaville Library for an entertaining and relaxed trivia night. Meet new people and learn fun facts!
Eumundi Markets Saturdays and Wednesdays, 8am–2:30pm 80 Memorial Drive, Eumundi
FREE
Australia’s largest art, craft, and produce market. There is always a stellar line-up of world-class musicians and talented performers as well as face-painters, alternative therapists, palm readers and much, much more!
Eumundi Drive-in: Rocky Horror Picture Show Friday 13 October, 5:30-9pm Eumundi Showgrounds
$10
Come along for a night of cult classic good times under the stars – with just enough spook to make it perfect for a Friday the 13th night out! Cars are limited, so be sure to book quick!
GOLD COIN Palmwoods Car Festival Saturday 21 October, 10am– 6pm, Palmwoods State School This festival will see the town come alive with an array of spectacular cars. Rock on up in your best outfits and enjoy the music entertainment, kids rides, food and drink, face painting, raffles and trophies for car and bike categories and best dressed.
Foodie Fun With The Long Apron Buderim Garden Village, Buderim Tuesday, 10 October
FREE
Chris Hagan is one of the culinary whizzes at award-winning Sunshine Coast restaurant, The Long Apron. Chris will demonstrate how to cook some of his delicious signature dishes. Gain inspiration for your home cooking and entertaining and get a taste test to boot!
Sunshine Coast Home, Caravan, Camping and Boating Expo Sunshine Coast Stadium, Kawana Waters Friday 13 to Sunday 15 October 9am–5pm
FREE
With 180 exhibiting companies and thousands of products and services to view, you better plan your day! This is your one-stop shop for homes, lifestyles, outdoor living and outdoor adventure.
$45 Menopause the Musical Wednesday 25 October, 7:30– 9:30pm, The J, 60 Noosa Drive Set in a department store, four women with seemingly nothing in common but a black lace bra on sale, come to find that they have more to share than ever imagined. This hilarious musical parody staged to classic tunes from the 60s, 70s, and 80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles.