Arundel

Small Things Can Make A Huge Difference

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Seachange Arundel resident Leigh Bartelt is selflessly providing comfort to those in need, hand-making cannula sleeves, and sensory mats for people living with dementia. Leigh experienced dementia first-hand with her late husband, Fred Bartelt, who passed away last year. While caring for him, she realised those living with dementia should have access to cannula sleeves and sensory mats. “My husband spent the last five years of his life in aged care, so I truly know the complexity of this illness,” said Leigh. “The sleeves protect arms while the mats act as a stimulation activity for fidgety hands. The mats really help reduce stress for those prone to restlessness and agitation.”

 

 

Leigh is not only dedicated to helping people; she also helps Australian wildlife by sewing pouches, wraps, and mittens for injured animals. “It’s crazy to think 12 months ago I did very little sewing, knitting or crocheting,” she said. “It’s funny how one small request through the Animal Rescue Craft Guild back in November last year has created so many activities and opportunities for me. “I now sew pouches for animals and got into this last year after the fires, starting with koala mittens, bat wraps, and all other small mammals.”

 

 

When COVID-19 hit, Leigh’s sewing attention turned to making medical scrubs, caps, and masks to help essential workers. Leigh explained there is a network of Australian women dedicated to sewing, knitting, and often self-resourcing to help hospitals have the necessary garments for patients and workers. “I am just one of many very wonderful women who spend all their spare dollars at Spotlight and even Bunnings to add more colours or exciting tassels to our sewing pieces. It’s incredible what gets added to these sensory mats now. Children’s toy boxes are often raided, too,” laughed Leigh.

 

Leigh’s notable enthusiasm is a testament to her selflessness and demonstrates that small things can make a huge difference.

Tennis at Seachange – all for the LOVE of the game!

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Playing tennis is a serious business for Carolyn Morrow and the rest of her tennis group. “We’re all more into tennis than a hit and a giggle,” she said. “We’re really committed to playing but, yes, we do still have time for social chit chat.” Carolyn’s husband Terry, a former tennis coach, taught her to play when she was ‘nearly 50ʼ and 25 years on, she still enjoys it just as much as when she first started in 1994.

 

The couple moved into Seachange Arundel in 2015 where they continued to serve up those match points, joining the community tennis club for regular games. Sadly, however, Terry fell into ill health. “He wanted to make sure I was somewhere nice, safe and secure, like Seachange Arundel, but that also had plenty of activities in which to take part,” Carolyn said. “This a really safe community environment – and it was really handy to the Gold Coast Hospital too for all his medical needs. “But he had a blood problem and passed away about a year and a half ago at the age 80.”

 

 

The now 75-year-old, however, continues the tradition of playing tennis about three times a week and to ensure she can keep playing also goes to the Seachange Arundel gym to do some light weight training. “I have to ensure I keep myself up and running so I go to the gym to keep my arms working properly. I do want to keep it up so need to keep well,” she said. “We all keep ourselves pretty healthy without knocking ourselves around too much. The tennis courts are made from artificial grass, so we don’t have to play on a hard surface risking injury. “We keep fit while having a nice social get together too – although we are on the court a fair bit. We’re all really committed to playing.”

 

Tennis group co-ordinator Rod Alford said the group had been running for 10 years and had about 40 members ranging in age from 55 to 85. When Carolyn isn’t on the tennis court, she can be found partaking in Seachange Arundel’s line dancing get-togethers twice a week or riding to the club house on her bicycle. “I also do tap dancing in Southport and would love to find someone to kayak with on a more regular basis – I still have my favourite light weight double and a single kayak,” she said.

No Stopping – Singing Sensation Lynn Rogers

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WINNING a talent quest in Coolangatta in 1957 catapulted a 16-year-old Lynn Rogers into a musical career that would see her meet the late great Frank Sinatra and sing alongside Sammy Davis Jnr.

Now at 79, Rogers shows no signs of resting her vocal chords despite an impressive career spanning 63 years.

“I am only semi-retired, still singing here and there, not pursuing a career any more, but I still love singing,” the Seachange Arundel resident said.

“The occasional jazz gigs, and the big band gigs come in and I am more than happy to do them.”

Finding fame in the 1960s with her chart-topping hit Just Loving You, she jetted off to the US a few years later and in 1965 regularly worked at the Latin Quartet in Las Vegas. Later she was signed to the Astor Records and released three singles and an EP.

“I was above The Easybeats, and back in those days, it was male groups that dominated the charts. It was very unusual to have a solo female singer,” Rogers said.

One night, the energetic vocalist befriended Sammy Davis Jnr after he got up during her show and started singing That Old Black Magic with her.

“Sammy was appearing in a show at the Palladium in London called Golden Boy, which was about a boxer, but I could never understand why because you’d blow on him and he’d fall over,” Rogers laughed.

Sammy Davis Jnr took the stunning singer under his wing and was instrumental in getting her on stage at the Star Dust Hotel in New York City.

“One night he introduced me to Frank Sinatra. I was so gobsmacked I accidentally spat across the table on Frank. I was stumbling over all my words because I just adore him,” she said.

“Even to this day, I can’t believe I spat on Frank Sinatra.”

Upon her return to Australia for a brief stint, not realising the magnitude of her success and status back home, she was greeted by national media as she disembarked her plane.

“I was walking along the tarmac at the airport, and all these reporters and paparazzi were trying to get photos of someone, so I stood to the side, so I wasn’t in their shot,” Rogers said.

“Well, on the news that night you can see me step aside and a journalist turns to me and says ‘Welcome back Ms Rogers, we’re taking photos of you’. I could not believe it.”

Rogers said Israel was her favourite place to perform, saying it felt like home.

“I was the first cabaret performer to appear there since the war, at the Magic Carpet Room in Tel Aviv-Yafo,” she said.

“I had been away from Australia for so long and when I came out on stage everyone started singing Waltzing Matilda. It was very emotional.”

Asked about her fondest memories from the 60s, Rogers said “if you can remember anything from the 60s, you weren’t really there”.

The songstress, who grew up in Mt Isa, said she felt sorry for young talented people who didn’t make the cut in singing contests because they had nowhere to learn their craft.

“The wonderful venues I sang in very early in my career are not there any more,” she said.

“Oh and by the way, to me, today’s music is as wonderful as it has always been — different, but wonderful. Music of all kinds does the heart and soul good and brings people together like nothing else can.”

 

Roving Twilight Concerts are a hit at Seachange

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It was wonderful to have both Channel 7 News and the Gold Coast Bulletin visit Seachange Arundel on Friday to cover our Roving Twilight Concert.

This was the second event of its kind at Seachange Arundel and a great opportunity for our home owners to come together and enjoy some fun and frivolity while staying safe and practising social distancing.

Talented performers Tracey Leigh and Glenn Shields serenaded our community from the street from 4pm-6pm while home owners kicked up their heels and had a dance.  The festive atmosphere was enhanced by the addition of a “holiday at home” theme with prizes for best dressed and best decorations.  There was some fierce competition amongst our more creative residents…stay tuned for the results.

At Seachange Toowoomba the slight chill in the air didn’t stop the fun as Raquelle Pedler brought her Jazz tunes to the streets for their outdoor concert.

A few of the best dressed…

 

Seachange Home Owners to Safely Commemorate Anzac Day

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There was a wonderful article in the Gold Coast Bulletin today about one of our Home Owners at Seachange Arundel and the plans for Anzac Day at resort this week.

Clive Mitchell-Taylor OAM, a Vietnam Veteran who leads the 12-strong ANZAC Day committee, said they were gearing up for what they hoped would be their largest ANZAC event to date, despite COVID-19.

It will have the key elements of a traditional ANZAC Day service but rather than head to their community’s cenotaph, residents at Seachange Lifestyle Resort will be able to watch a Facebook livestream from the safety of their own living rooms.

“This is the first time we have hosted the event in such a way, however we have a duty to protect our residents and the staff who work here,” said Mr Mitchell-Taylor, who served for 33 years in the Australian Army including a year in Vietnam.

“We have more than 30 veterans in our community and our ongoing mission to publicly acknowledge military service to our nation is stronger than ever during these unprecedented times.”

The special event, beginning at 6.20am on Saturday, will include The Ode, Last Post, a minute’s silence, The Rouse, raising of the Australian National Flag to full mast and the Australian and New Zealand National Anthems. Wreaths will then be laid at the Cenotaph on behalf of the Seachange veterans, the Seachange community and Seachange management. Residents may place their personal floral tributes at the Cenotaph later in the morning.  Seachange have also arranged a coffee van to be available during the morning to enable those who lay tributes to enjoy  a coffee in exchange for a gold coin donation with proceeds going to the Southport RSL.

“Residents are then encouraged to light a candle and stand in their driveways, while our community manager drives a piper around the resort. I believe this will be a special time to remember the fallen and those still serving.”

Seachange Lifestyle Resort Operations Manager Mia Pradella said she was focused on maintaining a sense of community at the resort, with safety of residents at the core.

“The value of living in a safe and supportive community like ours has never been greater,” said Ms Pradella.

“We want our residents to have the best possible lifestyle and continuing to support them with events and activities like this is key.”

Each of the Seachange Resorts has something special planned for Saturday to enable the communities to come together safely commemorate.

First Driveway Trivia Nights held at Seachange

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As the world changes our Seachange Home Owners and Community Managers are getting creative and finding new ways to enjoy the activities that they would usually participate in. Whilst the current situation with COVID-19 is affecting everyone, it is heart warming to see our communities embracing new ways to stay connected and support each other during this challenging time.

This week saw the first rounds of driveway trivia held at our Arundel, Coomera and Toowoomba Resorts and by all reports were a resounding success. Care was taken to abide by current social distancing guidelines and our home owners showed that they can still have a great time and share a laugh from a safe distance.