Victoria Point

Ready, Set, Dive!

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With 34,000 kilometres of coastline at our backdoor, Australians are spoilt for choice when it comes to world class scuba diving destinations.

Depending on the season, you can dive with any manner of sea creature from whales, dolphins and sharks to turtles, stingrays and more fish species than you can count. There are also unique opportunities to explore ancient shipwrecks, bright coral reefs and waters every shade of blue and green.

The popular underwater hobby also has many health and wellbeing benefits.

As you move through the water during a dive, your muscles work harder than they would if you were on land. The water and current create resistance and, the more you dive and swim, the more your muscles lengthen, build strength and develop endurance and flexibility.

Working all your muscles simultaneously during a dive gives you a complete cardiovascular workout, which is great for improving heart health and increasing bone density. Studies indicate that those who dive regularly are less prone to strokes and heart attacks.

Diving is also a great stress reliever, helping to improve blood circulation and reduce blood pressure.

Like the effects of meditation, breathing slowly and deeply while diving induces a calm state. While diving, you focus on the underwater environment, and your mind drifts away from the worries of the day. This helps to lower stress and balance the nervous system.

With so many recreational, health and wellbeing benefits, many over 50s are tempted by the idea of scuba diving. However, beginners may be hesitant to dip their toe in the diving world in case the deep-sea activity is too far outside their comfort zone.

The good news is it’s never too late to learn how to scuba dive. All ages can do it and the best part of all is no experience is necessary.

Diving in and around the Redlands

Victoria Point is one of a cluster of bayside villages in Southern Moreton Bay, giving Seachange Victoria Point residents easy access to multiple scuba diving locations close to home.

Popular dive sites can be found at nearby Coochiemudlo, Peel and Goat islands, and the local passenger ferry regularly takes locals to Coochie, as it is known.

Several dive schools offer courses for divers of all ages and skill levels in Brisbane and the Redlands.

Redland Sport Divers is a local club offering a variety of underwater activities and sports, including scuba diving.

Based in the Redlands, the team dives on sites from the HMAS Brisbane on the sunshine coast to the Tweed River on the Gold Coast. It also offers drift dives along the Gold Coast Seaway and “Clean Up” dives on Stradbroke Island. To find out about Redland Sport Divers’ organised diving and training options, visit the website.

Could scuba be for you? Why not take a dive out of your comfort zone and find out!

For more information about other leisure activities on offer near Seachange communities, call 1800 54 66 55

 

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.

 

 

 

Another Award for Pradella Property Ventures!

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We are extremely proud of 2019 UDIA Women in Leadership Winner and Pradella Property Ventures Chief Financial Officer Elaine Opferkuch who was recently featured in Establish Magazine.

Read the full article by Nadia Howland below…

For Elaine Opferkuch, hearing the words “You can’t” is like waving a red flag at a bull.
“My biggest achievements career-wise have been the ones that started out as the biggest challenges,” she says.

“When I started at Pradella, I was advised by many that funding the 414-lot Seachange Arundel project in the middle of the GFC was impossible. Well, those were the wrong words to the wrong person! Certainly, I had my fair share of unsuccessful attempts where the answer was ‘we are not funding SEQ’ or the amount offered was insufficient. But I ended up securing funding with a bank that believed in us and our ability to deliver. We kept our word, we delivered as promised, and they are one of our current funding pillars.”

Dogged, driven, and determined to stick to her word no matter what these are attributes that have seen Elaine achieve the unachievable time, and time again, throughout her career.  “My father owned a caravan park when I was growing up, so I saw him develop it from the ground up into a thriving community. I’m also a renovator myself, so I think these practical traits have given me the ability to sit at the boardroom table and negotiate pricing and terms based on actual experience,” she explains.

Elaine’s career has encompassed stints with various building and development companies, fixing their accounting and finance departments and managing tight cashflow and bank negotiations while facing financial obstacles. The diverse scope of work gave her an in-depth understanding of all facets of the development and building industry.

“Many of these firms had outdated accounting systems requiring replacement and implementation. The job costing and estimating wouldn’t integrate with general ledger, and cashflow and budgeting required management. I assessed the problems, implemented the solution and managed the outcome, and only when problems converted to maintaining the system would I move on to the next challenge,” Elaine says.

“After working for Berela, where we were taken over by another development company, I thought I would try something different to see if my skills could be transferable to another industry.

“I took up a position at Ipswich Grammar School as Secretary to the Board and Commercial Manager. The school was going through a rough cashflow patch. It took three years to turn it around. I was able to negotiate a $4 million grant from the Federal Government via utilising changes in school categorisation policy (being innovative), which brought money into the school’s operational account. For the building fund, I initiated and had approval to do a greenfield development at Brassall

whereby I project managed the development, which proved successful. I negotiated a grant and external funding to build the new junior school building and complex and bought and sold houses-all bringing money into the building fund. Happy days!”
Adding to her impressive track record, Elaine has also been a financial controller, secretary to the board of public, private and not-for-profit organisations and CFO for both public and private entities.

She has been Chief Financial Officer and a member of the Pradella Property Ventures (PPV) Board for more than 10 years, and says she works with an amazing team and workplace culture. “It’s great being part of the history of the organisation and its decision-making processes,” Elaine says.

“Above everything, Pradella is a positive influence in this industry, being innovative and a role model for other development firms. Lenders know we are 100 percent true to our word and will deliver what we promise every single time. Customers know we will go above and beyond to listen to their needs and deliver community-driven outcomes.”
Asked what winning the 2019 Women in Leadership Award means to her, Elaine says the recognition has encouraged her to use her experience and voice to inspire and encourage young people, particularly women, to see the importance in “behind the scenes roles” and give back to the building and construction industry.

“Often, finance and accounting teams sit in the shadows in our industry,” Elaine says.
“But without us, these projects wouldn’t get off the ground. I want this Award to inspire other women to keep pressing forward being the best they can be. You have a voice and you should feel valued. It has built my confidence not only knowing my contribution matters but that others also believe in me too.

Elaine has sage advice for those starting out in development or looking to pursue a career in the industry: “To be successful, I believe you need to be true to your own core values and have passion in what you do,” she explains.

“My core values are honesty, integrity, professionalism, and respect. Understand your own values and stay true to them. Be keen to learn and listen. And remember, leadership is less about yourself and more about the people around you. When we genuinely care about the wellbeing of people around us in business and life, amazing things happen. The more you invest in them, the more they invest in you.”