Arundel

The Lawn Bowls Bar has long been a hub for community connection at Seachange Arundel. Now it is a place where residents can contribute their time and skills, with a total of 25 volunteers attaining Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) qualifications that allow them to run the bar and simultaneously raised much-needed funds for local charities. Volunteer Bar Manager, Howard Wallace, who has been living at the resort for five years, said “community spirit truly comes alive at our venue”. “A lot of those working the bar love it because they get to know other people in the community. It’s a great way to connect. People rally around. It’s a very social community and everyone wants to do something,” said Howard, who has managed the bar for two years. As a function venue, the Lawn Bowls Bar has raised more than $10,000 for various charities as well as hosted welfare seminars with information from hospitals, legal advice on wills, first aid and many other subjects.

“Pre-COVID19, we could have up to 400 people at a function, however, now we must restrict numbers,” he said. “Two of the largest events of the year were functions to raise money for breast cancer, which last year saw more than $3000 raised, and for prostate cancer in November, which resulted in donations of $8000.” Funds raised from the bar contribute to a large proportion of administration costs, various community events, regular activities, and to the Home Owners Association (HOA). HOA president Marjorie Gerlinger said “we are so fortunate to have an amazing group of volunteers who put a huge amount of time and effort into organising and running all that goes on, and it is a lot. Without those volunteers we wouldn’t be able to provide a small fraction of what we are able to offer our residents.”

Meet and greets are held once a month for new people, with events organised throughout the year, plus 38 regular activities available for residents. Anzac Day is also huge at Seachange Arundel with about 400 of the 700-odd residents expected to attend various activities throughout the resort. Coming up is the Seachange’s Got Talent show in April with two sold out performances, regular travel shows and a sold-out Olivia Newton-John History Show in May. In fact, currently with restricted numbers all events and shows are sell-outs!

Val Glover-Hovan has made her mark on more than 30,000 people over the past 36 years and as one of Australia’s most sought-after cosmetic tattooists, the 81-year-old has no plans to down tools yet! She even makes regular trips to Sydney, Melbourne and Perth to care for loyal clients, some who have been seeing her for more than 30 years. “I remember when I was 50 and a client said, make sure you tell me when you’re going to retire, because I’ll have to have my eyebrows retouched before you do so,” Val said. “I told her, I’ll retire when I’m 60, then when I turned 60 it became 65, then it became 70 and so forth.”

Homeowners at Seachange are encouraged to keep active, and Val said that is why she made the move from Sydney in Manly, leaving her established beauty business behind. “It took me a long time to make the move to Seachange, but I was on my own and I wanted to be somewhere where people care,” she said. “If you’re in an apartment, people wouldn’t know if you’re dead or alive, but if you’re not out and about at Seachange, your friends will come and knock at your door to make sure you’re ok.” Val said she enjoyed seeing friendly faces from Seachange Lifestyle Resort at her clinic.

“I love helping so many people feel good about themselves, even if that means helping women have eyebrows again,” she said. “I believe it’s important to always pretty ourselves up and make the best of what we have. I believe we should put on our makeup and add some colour to the face. Keep beauty alive, it keeps you alive. We are living on the beautiful Gold Coast and it is indeed a place that is divine and attracts beautiful people as well. And I should say, that is what Seachange is all about – beautiful people on the inside and outside.”

When Val trained as a cosmetic tattooist in 1985 she used a needle in a bamboo stick. Now, more than three decades on, she uses modernised techniques and new equipment that allows her to work on all parts of the female and male anatomy. “It’s a truly rewarding job,” she said. “You have to have a reason to get up every day, be thankful you can, no matter what it is, it will get you motivated and keep you happy.”

Even with her optimistic approach, Val said she will retire when she knows she can’t do it any longer. “I’m sensible and I’ll get that message when it’s time to stop, whether it’s because of my eyes or hands.”

Always keeping active, Val proudly treats clients weekly at her Southport salon, Cosmetic Tattoo Australia.

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.

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.