retirement living toowoomba

Learning the art of living life to the full

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Take a closer look and you will see the beautiful water lily images hanging at Toowoomba’s Seachange Lifestyle Resort are not Monet prints but original paintings by local artist and resident Joan Hurtado. After a lifetime teaching art and featuring in solo and group exhibitions, Joan, is entering a new creative phase. She is currently studying for a degree in visual art at the University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba campus.

 

“I reached 85 and thought about what I was going to do with my life. I enrolled at uni to learn things about art I didn’t know. It is important to question your journey and where you are going and to find ways to stay busy. “Friends say I am crazy and study certainly isn’t for everyone – only if you have a fire and want to do it for yourself. “My life has been very unusual. I’ve had a lot of change, a lot of travel and I’ve learned to cope with change, whereas someone who hasn’t had that movement might find it almost impossible. “The technology can be a bit daunting but I persevered and I am getting there. The university and younger students are always happy to help.”

 

Some of Joan’s best artworks hang in the garage of her stylish new home – a combination of pieces from a recent exhibition in Roma plus a sampling of new works. Her next works are likely to feature the rugged red outback of Western Australia as Joan is currently packing her rucksack in preparation for a 13-day camping and walking tour of the Kimberleys in July. “I am really excited about camping in the Bungle Bungles. I will be taking lots of photos and sketching to bring back inspiration to do more paintings.”

 

 

Joan has been fascinated with art since she was a tiny child living with her grandmother in England during the harrowing days of World War II. “I remember at the age of five, when I saw my grandmother writing on a bit of paper, I thought it was magic so I commandeered the pencil,” she said. “It was England in wartime and I was an only child so art is how I used to amuse myself.”

 

Joan’s mother drove ambulances and trucks and her father was a Prisoner of War, so young Joan didn’t know her parents when the family migrated to Australia to set up a new life. She carried her love of art into her first job working in a library while studying dressmaking and fashion design at night. Her high school education and fashion certificate led to a job teaching dressmaking to high school students and later as an art and craft teacher, before Joan upgraded her qualifications to become a year three teacher at Hobartville, Richmond, in New South Wales.

 

At the same time, she was entering art competitions and exhibiting her own paintings, which were quite traditional, unlike the large contemporary landscapes she produces today. As well as painting Joan has tried her hand at all kinds of craft, including pottery weaving, stained glass and leatherwork. “I don’t really have a  favourite medium. They are all creative things that use your hands which is what I like to do and that’s why I still do it.” The vibrant light and expansive Australian landscape have been a constant inspiration for Joan who farmed with her husband for more than 20 years on the NSW mid-north coast, while teaching at Macksville High School.  “Things changed when my son died just before his 30th birthday and we moved to Queensland. We lived in the outback at Mitchell for 10 years because that is where my husband wanted to be. I had an art studio there and ran workshops and volunteered in the local community gallery.

 

“My husband and I met at 15 and we were best friends until he died five years ago. Then I got a dog instead. We had lots of adventures together and travelled widely in Australia and overseas.” At 70 when retired and living in Brisbane, Joan took on a full-time teaching position at Canberra Boys Grammar for six months, filling in for a friend who was undertaking a degree in Thailand. It was later, while checking out summer school workshops in Toowoomba, that she discovered her new home at Seachange.

 

 

“My daughter wanted me to be closer to her in Brisbane but this is my time. I’ve got a beautiful home and a beautiful community that enables me to be independent. I’m close to the university and I am looking forward to enjoying the rest of my life.”

 

 

Carolyn gives recycling the green thumbs up

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One tiny bag of garbage is all Carolyn Cloake has to throw in her bin at the end of each week. The avid environmentalist has made recycling an artform and she is encouraging her neighbours at Seachange Lifestyle Resort Toowoomba to get into the spirit. “Each of us can do fairly simple things to protect our environment and minimise the amount of rubbish we send to landfill,” Carolyn said. “We can all make small changes like taking a reusable bag when we buy fruit and vegies rather than using a plastic bag, just as we did with groceries.

 

“Today, people are very quick to throw things out – it is easy and convenient but often it is because they don’t know what else they can do with the things they no longer want. “A lot of  items can be recycled if you know where to go. Batteries can be dropped off at the supermarket, for example, and Toowoomba Regional Council has excellent recycling facilities that takes larger items like e-waste, metal, cardboard, polystyrene. Old pens, markers and ink cartridges can be dropped into Officeworks for recycling and old sports shoes can go to  sports retailers. “Recycling takes a bit of effort but, as consumers, we need to take responsibility for what we buy and do our bit to reduce our own environmental footprint. “Older people are often great role models. Many of them grew up in times when you had to make things last. Things were made to be repaired and you couldn’t just go to the shop and buy new.”

 

 

Toowoomba Regional Council Water and Waste Committee portfolio leader Cr Nancy Sommerfield congratulated Carolyn Cloake’s tremendous recycling efforts. “Carolyn is showing how easily residents can reduce their own waste streams,” Cr Sommerfield said. “Carolyn is a shining example of how household behaviour can help Council reduce, reuse and recycle precious resources to divert more material from our landfills. “Diverting recyclable material from landfill reduces operating costs and promotes further environmental benefits.”

 

Carolyn bundles up her unwanted clothes, sheets and towels and posts them to a manufacturer for upcycling where the material is repurposed into upholstery filling, insulation and many other uses. “If you wouldn’t give it to your best friend, you shouldn’t send it to the op shop. We all like to donate old clothes to charity but many of the stores are so overloaded that they have to dispose of a lot of the unsuitable clothing.” Kitchen scraps go into the worm farm and compost bin to feed the organic community garden run by a group of Seachange residents. “The garden is great fun and we love to share home grown organic produce with everyone in the community,” said Carolyn. The Seachange community now has a collection bin near the resort clubhouse where everyone is encouraged to deposit their cans and bottles to raise money for charity.

 

Carolyn and her husband John moved to Seachange Toowoomba, part of the Ingenia over 50s Communities, from their acreage property on the Sunshine Coast 18 months ago. They were attracted by the community’s beautifully landscaped gardens and environmentally friendly design, which includes built-in water recycling and solar power to help reduce household running costs.

 

 

As a teacher’s aide, Carolyn led the student environment squad at Mooloolaba State school teaching primary school children how to do their bit to care for the environment. “Growing up on a farm we learnt to make use of what was available and I have taken a lot of those experiences with me through life. We only went to town once a week and weren’t used to having new all the time,” she said. Cr Sommerfield said Council was continuing to expand recycling options at the Region’s waste facilities. “Council is working to transition in line with the state government targets for 90% of our waste being reused and diverted from landfill by 2050. “Recycling initiatives reinforce a circular economy where product streams can be recycled, repurposed or reused, for instance the use of glass in road construction.”

 

 

 

 

Sneak peek of brand new $3million Country Club

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It was a day to remember for our growing community of homeowners at Seachange Toowoomba, as they were treated to a “sneak peak” of their brand new Country Club last week. The Country Club is the second stage of the recreational facilities to be completed, joining the Award Winning Summer House and completing the spectacular facilities on offer.

There were plenty of smiles and lots of “oohs and aahs” as guests walked through the building, appreciating the wow factor of the spaces.

“Creating a sense of place is our passion. We design environments that promote people’s health, happiness and well being.” Said Mia Pradella of Seachange. “It is the attention to detail, quality and craftsmanship that truly sets this facility apart from anything else on offer in the region”.

The entry into the main lounge has the feeling of entering a private members club with a built in, two way fire place, feature stone and plush interiors creating a cosy and welcoming environment.

The bar area offers views out across Adams Park, with a large screen TV perfect for catching up on your favourite sports. The main dining hall which will play host to a variety of functions features a stage and dance floor and the kitchen has been equipped to service parties large and small. The Gold Class style Cinema, Arts and Craft studio, Workshop and Community Garden have all been included to allow people ample opportunity to explore their passions and hobbies.

The Bathers Pavilion has its own separate entry and includes an indoor heated lap pool, steam room, Yoga and Pilate’s studio and fully equipped gymnasium perfect for keeping fit and fabulous all year round.

Externally there is a bowling green with extensive undercover decking providing a perfect view point for those wanting to watch the action. An adjoining pocket park complete with rose bushes and giant chess set is just another area where home owners can enjoy the company of neighbours.

The Country Club is due to be officially opened on the 5th of September 2020, those interested in an exclusive preview tour can book in here.