Lifestyle

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.

Seachange Puts Your Future First

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Future proofing homes and ensuring they can be adapted to suit the differing needs of residents has always been a key focus for the creators of Seachange Lifestyle Resorts. Pradella Property Ventures’ Mia Pradella said all Seachange homes were designed and constructed using liveable housing design principles. “We understand that the needs of over 50s change over time so have been focused on ensuring our homes are designed without the need for customisation and remodelling,” said Ms Pradella. “For example, some of our design features include ease of access, hob less showers, step free pathways and bathrooms fitted with grab rails. These core features have future proofed our residents’ homes.”

 

Seachange Riverside Coomera resident Carol Todd has a lift installed in her house. “We were fortunate enough to be able to purchase a house here at Seachange that has been adapted toward the needs of my husband and myself,” said Mrs Todd. “It was a deciding factor in making the decision to move to Seachange and we couldn’t be happier.”

 

 

The homes at Seachange Lifestyle Resorts are created in a way to help provide peace of mind for whatever the future may hold, and allow residents to live independently and safely.

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.”

 

Reward yourself and a friend!

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We are giving you 1500 extra reasons to make the change today.

If you refer-a-friend to our Seachange Riverside Coomera or Toowoomba Resorts and it results in a successful purchase we will reward you and your friend with $1500 cash each.

Why not refer-a-friend so they can come and see why Seachange Lifestyle Resorts are the benchmark in over 50s living... who knows, they might even be your new neighbour.

HOW IT WORKS

Simply refer-a-friend, family member or member of the community to Seachange Riverside Coomera or Toowoomba Resorts and if the referral results in a successful purchase of a new home we will reward both of you with $1500 cash!

WHAT CONSTITUTES A SUCCESSFUL REFERRAL?

To maintain the programs integrity, referral’s cannot be made retrospectively. A referral must be made via a ‘referral form’ prior to the enquiry being made or on the first visit to the Sales Office. Upon submitting your referral, the sales team will confirm whether or not the referee has been accepted or not, by checking to see if they have made a previous enquiry to Seachange.

• A Home Owner recommends Seachange Riverside Coomera or Toowoomba to another person and on the basis of that recommendation, an individual makes an enquiry
• A Home Owner submits a Referral Program Form to the Sales Office or a Sales Consultant with details of an individual who may make an enquiry based on the Home Owners’ encouragement or invitation; an an individual approaches the Sales Office or a Sales Consultant and submits a referral form outlining details of the Home Owner who invited them to make further enquiry

WHO CAN MAKE A REFERRAL TO SEACHANGE?

A family member, friend, member of the community or a community organisation or club.

• If a son or daughter does the research and calls ahead, or visits the Sales office with their parent and fills out a referral form and their parent purchases a new home at Seachange Coomera or Toowoomba both child and parent will be rewarded with $1500 cash
• The same applies for friends and members of the community

HOW IS THE REFERRAL PAID?

All successful referrals will be contacted by Seachange to organise payment.

Additional Terms and Conditions:

  • Referral forms must be returned with the full name & contact details completed.
  • Referrals must be new visitors and not have previously visited, registered or had any contact with Seachange Lifestyle Resorts (Seachange).
  • You will receive written confirmation via email that your referral has been accepted.
  • The Referral program is operated at the sole discretion of Seachange.
  • This Referral only applies to homes sold by Seachange on behalf of PPV Coomera Development Trust or PPV Toowoomba Development Trust and is not available on resale homes.
  • All details of this program are current at the time of printing/publishing but are subject to change at any time without notice at the discretion of Seachange.
  • Seachange may terminate this referral program at any time without notice.

 

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…