Time To ‘Kick Back and Enjoy’ for Seachangers

When Di and Terry Murtagh decided to move into Seachange Toowoomba to enjoy their retirement in “a safe community lifestyle”, they didn’t have far to travel. In fact, it may well have been one of the shortest moves they had made since meeting in Darwin in 1970, given it was literally “just on the other side of town”. The couple moved into the resort in March after attending an Open Day and viewing the “lovely villas, inviting facilities and friendly atmosphere”.

“We met in Darwin, when Terry was working for PMG (Postmaster-General’s Department) and I was at NT. Mines Branch, and we got married in 1972 in Toowoomba, where I was born,” Di said. “After being blown out of Darwin by Cyclone Tracy on Christmas Day 1974, we moved with PMG to Mount Gambier, in South Australia, but returned to Darwin with our first son in 1976.” After their second son was born, Terry was promoted to Technical Instructor in the Telecom Training Schools, which saw them move to both Adelaide and later Brisbane. While in Brisbane, Di made a foray into the Brisbane fashion scene, owning her own boutique, and acting as a fashion parade compère and choreographer. She later studied at the Wal Scerri Pharmacy Academy and when the couple moved to Toowoomba in 1986, found work in a pharmacy while Terry enjoyed a promotion to Quality Assurance Inspector covering southwest Queensland.

After 35 years with the PMG/Telecom industry, Terry obtained a redundancy which set them on a new path. “We purchased Racecourse News Newsagency at Wyalla Plaza, Toowoomba, and although it was very long hours, it was seven years of very rewarding work,” Di said. “Then after a nice break, which included overseas and Australian travel, we embarked on a new venture and swapped ‘the news for the views’, building a lovely Colonial-style Bed & Breakfast and Cottages in the beautiful Steele Rudd scenic countryside of Mt Rascal south of Toowoomba. Our Mt Rascal B&B brought a lot of joy to the many of the interstate and international guests hosted there. We thoroughly enjoyed the accommodation and hospitality industry, and during this time Terry held the position as Chairman of The Toowoomba & Golden West Tourism Association. Plus, we both still worked part-time. Terry drove the school bus and I was a pharmacy manager.” Terry retired six years ago and Di, after the past 23 years at the pharmacy, in July last year.

“It’s now time for us to kick back and enjoy our lovely new home at Seachange,” she said. “Terry enjoys playing pool with his new friends and it was not hard to embrace the Friday night happy hours and movie nights. “I also love to help out the kitchen ladies at the functions and look forward to hitting the tennis court, pool and gym. “There’s lots more fun times ahead for us and we are very happy. Our grandchildren think it’s pretty cool we live here too.”