for you. timeSPRING 2019

PALM LAKE RESORT

LOCK IT AND LEAVEOur maintenance-free homes provide security and peace of mind for adventure seekers

WHAT TO SEE, WHERE TO GO Palm Lake Resort home owners are a wealth of travel knowledge and tips!

RV HOMES IMPRESS Our huge RV homes keep your most prized possessions under your own roof

live a HOLIDAYeveryday

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04 PEOPLE POWER 11,000 Palm Lake people can’t be wrong! It’s great to see our homeowners

enjoying their time together - within their resorts and across our locations

08 BLOOMIN’ SUCCESS Our Toowoomba resort got right into the spirit of the 70th annual Carnival of Flowers and, boy, was it a bloomin’ spectacle!

10 TWELVE MONTHS ON It’s been one year since we broke ground at Caloundra Cay and there’s no

sign of things slowing down

11 NEWS IN BRIEF Join us around the various resort grounds for what’s making the news

12 THE BEACHMERE DIFFERENCE

If you’re looking for that Hamptons holiday lifestyle, you really don’t have to cross the globe - you’ll find it at Beachmere Bay

13 SUBURB SPOTLIGHT: BARGARA Bargara’s natural beauty makes it a popular choice for Palm Lake Resort

homeowners - so much so that we are extending our resort

14 AROUND THE GROUNDS A little glimpse at some of the major events we’ve celebrated recently

16 LOCK IT AND LEAVE: OUR TRAVEL SPECIAL Travel and the spirit of adventure is what retirement is about for many Aussies. While our homeowners have everything they need within the grounds of their resort, we also make it easy for them to pack up and enjoy some well deserved time away - and now’s the perfect time of the year to do just that! In our special ‘Travel’ section, find out how our homes are designed for travellers in mind, while also learning travel tips from our own homeowners. There’s inspiration aplenty right here!

31 MADE FROM THE HEART Kind-hearted Palm Lake Resort residents are supporting their friends at Palm lake Care

32 PALM LAKE CARE Our aged caring communities are filled with wonderful residents living their best life. We are proud to be doing aged care alongside them

34 PROPERTY PROFILE Check out all the Palm Lake Resort and Care locations across our group

CONTENTS

Editorial Belle PR: Belinda Glindemann, Anastasia White Design Raspberry Creative: Vanessa Russell Palm Lake Group Southport Central Tower 3, Level 4, 9 Lawson St, Southport QLD 4215 Postal address PO Box 10479, Southport BC QLD 4215 Phone 13 PALM LAKE (13 7256) Email info@palmlakeresort.com.au Founder/Director Walter Elliott Managing Director Scott Elliott CEO Manuel Lang ©Palm Lake Group 2019. All rights reserved. Circulation: 6000 copies.

No part of this free magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of the copyright holder. This magazine is intended to give general information only. All liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of, or for any omissions in the information given, is expressly disclaimed. Please note: Some images contained within are artist impressions only and are subject to change without notice. Some images courtesy of Tourism Queensland and Destination NSW.

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DID YOU KNOW, there are approximately 11,000 residents in total living in a Palm Lake Group abode across the country? For our community, ‘home’ might mean enjoying the lifestyle on offer in one of our 25 Palm Lake Resort locations. Or for others, it’s the independence of a plush suite in one of our four Palm Lake Care aged caring communities. Ours is an extensive portfolio of properties spanning Australia’s east coast – a portfolio that the Elliott family has been building for 42 years.

Whether their home is a Palm Lake Resort or Palm Lake Care, what is clear to me is the importance of our people. Our award-winning resorts and stellar aged caring communities would be nothing without the resident communities we build, in parallel, around them.

Throughout our network of Palm Lake Resorts, there are engaged communities of neighbours who share common interests across the creative arts, social hobbies, sporting pursuits and more. And one thing that a large proportion of our residents seek out when making the decision to move into a Palm Lake Resort is the ease and security of our ‘lock it and leave’ homes.

You see, these people are adventure seekers and travel enthusiasts. They’ve finally got the time now, in their retirement, to explore all corners of our country – and the world. We continue to evolve our resorts around these people. Our RV home designs offer all the style and luxury synonymous with the modern Palm Lake Resort brand, as well as expansive over-sized garages to store those ‘toys’

that make the retirement years so memorable – caravans, motorhomes, watercraft and more. Many of our resorts also offer additional onsite caravan storage and wash-down facilities, but, importantly, what we can offer adventure-seeking residents is peace of mind when they’re away. Their home is within our secure gates and our caretakers (along with all their neighbours) are happy to keep an eye on their most valuable asset while they’re away. And of course, Palm Lake Resort homes are maintenance-free. We’ll take care of your front yard so you’re not up for heaps of mowing and the like upon your return.

We hope you enjoy our spring edition of Time for You magazine. May it inspire your sense of adventure and even plant a seed for a future trip. And may it inspire you to join us here at one of our Palm Lake Resort locations. We are considerate and engaged community members. We are adventure seekers. We are likeminded neighbours. And we look forward to welcoming you home.

Manuel Lang CEO, Palm Lake Group

WELCOME

SPRING EDITION 2019

“Our RV home designs offer all the style and luxury synonymous with the modern Palm Lake Resort brand, as well as expansive over-sized garages to store those ‘toys’ that make the retirement years so memorable – caravans, motorhomes, watercraft and more”.

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SPRING EDITION 2019 SPRING EDITION 2019

IT DOESN’T MATTER which residents of the two dozen or so Palm Lake Resorts you speak to, over the 40-odd years that Palm Lake Group has been developing these sites, you will always hear stories about firm friendships built over the fence, over a game of lawn bowls or over an icy cold beverage at Happy Hour. While Palm Lake Resort residents are encouraged to do as much or as little as they please, each resort’s weekly activities roster and special events calendar is brimming with opportunities for them to spend time with likeminded neighbours. And herein lies one of the secrets to authentic happiness – being part of a community.

It’s true - bricks and mortar do maketh our award-winning Palm Lake Resort facilities and homes, but it’s the likeminded communities who congregate here that maketh these secure gated resorts some of the most

While Palm Lake Resort is renowned for building multimillion-dollar country clubs, award-winning community facilities and architectural abodes across Australia’s east coast, there’s one thing that turns these houses into homes, and these collective homes into warm, welcoming, happy lifestyle communities – and that’s the people.

PEOPLE POWER

>> Continued on Page 6Pictured, Hemingway’s Country Club at Palm Lake Resort Caloundra Cay.

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welcoming places around. Our real assets are our people. And across the Palm Lake Group’s community lifestyle resorts and aged caring communities, there are around 11,000 people in total calling a Palm Lake Group abode their home. There are painters, potters, artisans and creatives, singers and musicians, sports enthusiasts, travellers and adventure seekers among them - just to name a few. And what is impressive is that our people genuinely enjoy their time together – be that within their own resort communities and across our locations.

Bowls brings our people together

As this edition of Time for You magazine went to press, Palm Lake Group’s biggest ever inter-resort competition had just been played out at a dry and dusty lawn bowls club in the heart of drought-stricken Kingaroy. Around 100 residents from Palm Lake Resorts Bargara, Beachmere, Cooroy-Noosa, Toowoomba, Hervey Bay, Upper Coomera and Eagleby descended upon the peanut farming town to compete in the event – “compete” being the questionable word…

Palm Lake Resort Bargara resident Joy Williams was instrumental in bringing the idea of such a large inter-resort competition to life. For the past four years, lawn bowls enthusiasts from Palm Lake Resorts Bargara and Eagleby would meet and play an annual grudge match at Murgon Bowls Club.

“We would generally get together halfway between both resorts at Yallakool Caravan Park, near the Bjelke-Petersen Dam, near Murgon, where the majority would stay on RV sites with a few staying in onsite cabins,” Joy explains.

On any normal day, the Murgon club has just nine active players, so when 36-odd Palm Lake Resort players rolled in, it makes for quite the spectacle.

“The comment was often made at these games that it would be good to meet even more likeminded resort residents,” Joy says. “Last year, general discussion led to the idea that it would be good to extend the invitation to ALL the Queensland Palm Lake Resorts to join us in 2019.”

Joy says it would have been impossible to fit any additional players into the Murgon club so bigger grounds were

FESTIVALS OF FUN!

SPRING EDITION 2019 SPRING EDITION 2019

sought. Keen travellers, Joy and her husband Andrew knew that a large contingent of Palm Lake Resort residents descending on any country lawn bowls club would give that club’s local economy an important boost. Joy highlighted Kingaroy as being quite central to those Palm Lake Resorts expressing their early interest in attending, as well as it being a town that could benefit from an influx of tourists. So that was it. Joy began planning. The end result was a week-long ‘festival’ (with Palm Lake Group financial sponsorship) offering participating residents the chance to pull up their RVs together, enjoy shared Happy Hours and good conversations after dinner each night, join in an organised bus tour, oh, and of course, there was even some lawn bowls played!

“If you are after serious prize money or trophies, forget it!” Joy’s invitation read. “If you are keen to meet other likeminded resort residents and have a bit of fun, then you will not want to miss out!”

In the end, 84 residents across the seven Palm Lake Resort locations battled it out on two Kingaroy greens for three days. Teams of triples played over 17 ends. For the sake of reporting and marking history, the winners of the perpetual trophy were the “Riverside Rebels” from Palm Lake Resort Upper Coomera (including Di Wiseman, Peter Murray and Dennis Wiseman) and the runners-up were the “Bargara Lovebirds” (including Baden Lovering, Bev Birditt and Henry Birditt). But, as Joy reminds us, the real winners were the 100 Palm Lake Resort residents who joined in the fun - and the town of Kingaroy.

“The week has been a great success and everyone is buzzing about having it again next year or, at the very least, in two years’ time,” Joy says. “With many country towns struggling to cope with this devastating drought and a sluggish

rural economy, the positive impact our visit has had on this small town has been extremely appreciated by the community.

“Behind it all though, we all have likeminded attitudes and similar interests. It’s not so much about the bowls, to be honest. We all enjoy sitting around and talking about our travels. Many of our bowlers are also entertainers so they’d pull out their guitars and there would be singing as well – it’s really such a social atmosphere. And just about every second van on our trip had a dog in it so there was also loads of doggie play time!”

Bay vs Cay

In another tussle for Palm Lake Resort supremacy (well, kind of!), Caloundra Cay Sales Manager Alysia Nechvoglod says her sales team is in the process of organising the inaugural Caloundra Cay vs Beachmere Bay ‘Inter-resort Games’. Alysia says each resort will take turns to host three games per day. Residents might compete against their counterpart resort in the golf simulator room, on the lawn bowls green or even around a deck of cards or a billiards table. The players will earn points for their resort team with a winning resort named at the end of each day.

“It’s just another way for us to encourage friendships across our locations, with a little bit of fun and good sportsmanship sprinkled on top,” Alysia says.

To experience the Palm Lake Resort lifestyle for yourself, you simply must visit us. To book your resort tour and find out more about a potentially life-changing move to one of our Palm Lake Resort locations, simply freecall our Sales Centres (our numbers can be found on Page 34) or visit us online at www.palmlakeresort.com.au - trust us, your diary and social life will thank you for it!

Right now, and up until Christmas, Palm Lake Resorts Cooroy-Noosa and Beachmere Bay are hosting their inaugural “Festivals of Fun”. To make the most of Queensland’s beautiful spring/summer weather, the Festivals of Fun invite visitors to join in with residents on their regular social and sporting activities, while also providing an excuse for both resorts to host other fun new social events. Palm Lake Resort sales manager Jen Nichols says among the Festival of Fun activities scheduled for Cooroy-Noosa, for example, are tai chi morning teas, dinner and cards nights, trivia, ten pin bowling and cocktail parties.

“We are inviting guests to join in with our residents in all of their usual activities and we are adding a bit of extra fun along the way!” Jen says. “It’s a great way for visitors to see firsthand just how enjoyable and rewarding it is to be part of a Palm Lake Resort - there is such a great community spirit here that you really have to experience for yourself.”

To find out what Festival of Fun activities are on when, freecall Cooroy-Noosa: 1800 885 851 Beachmere Bay: 1800 338 382

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Pictured, the award-winning Pinnacle Country Club at Palm Lake

Resort Toowoomba.

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BLOOMIN’ BEAUTY!THE TOOWOOMBA CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS IS ICONIC IN TOOWOOMBA. CELEBRATING 70 YEARS THIS YEAR, THE EVENT’S GRAND PARADE ENJOYED A NEW ENTRANT – WITH THANKS TO THE TALENTS OF SOME DEDICATED PALM LAKE RESORT TOOWOOMBA HOMEOWNERS AND STAFF.

PEOPLE TRAVEL FROM all over the country and descend upon Toowoomba in September each year to indulge in the range of bloomin’ fun events and also stand in awe of the floral wonder that is this entire regional city during the Carnival of Flowers. The carnival celebrated its 70th anniversary this year and Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba has always played a role in the event – from dressing up the resort’s own gardens, to encouraging residents to enter the garden competition. We even have a few past Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers ‘Carnival Queens’ who nowadays call our resort home! This year, Palm Lake Resort’s participation in the town’s most popular annual event extended to include an award-

winning entry in the Grand Parade.

The Grand ParadePalm Lake Resort Toowoomba resident Bill Jacklin is the coordinator of the resort’s workshop and an ex-manual arts teacher, so when the Sales Team had an idea to enter a float in the parade, Bill was their first port of call. The float began life as an old trailer. The workshop team stripped it down, put in a new wooden floor and built an almost 3m-high arch structure that was inspired by the resort’s tenpin bowling alley. The arch gave way to a river of potted flowers that flowed down into a replica infinity-edge pool, not unlike the Pinnacle Country Club’s own impressive pool. The residents

fashioned a Palm Lake Resort logo out of steel and ex-farrier resident Ray Gallaher created some quirky flamingos out of old horse shoes to adorn the impressive creation. And what would a Palm Lake Resort float be without a few palm trees?!

“It’s taken a lot of work and a lot of hours have been put in, but it’s been such an enjoyable exercise,” Bill says. The project has helped shine a spotlight on the resort’s workshop, showing just how clever and creative our residents can be.

“It’s amazing what many hands working together can come up with,” Sales Manager Leisa Saunders says.

Bill says the float structure really came to life with thanks to the efforts of the Sales Team and the resort’s groundspeople who did “a truly magnificent job” of preparing dozens of potted flowers that helped the float literally bloom into life. And the team’s efforts were definitely rewarded. The float scored third prize in the Grand Parade and was a real stand out among the dozens of entrants.

Betty’s still got it! Betty Sullivan (pictured top right) has received some kind of Carnival of Flowers commendation every year for the past decade. We’ve been lucky to have Betty call Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba home for the past five years. In this year’s competition, Betty’s incredible Villa 197 garden received second prize in the “Lifestyle Unit Dwelling Garden” category and third in the “Front Garden” category - for the whole of Toowoomba!

“Gardening is just what I like to do,” an ever-humble Betty says. “I have a

beautiful home that I keep neat and tidy inside and when that’s all done, I like to go outside and work in my garden. It keeps me alive!”

Among the key decorative elements of Betty’s entry this year, she covered her late husband’s trestle (that dates back to the 1950s when he was a carpenter after the war) with planters full of bright petunias. And she fashioned up a display with a watering can that spills faux water (think glistening clear and blue beads wired to the spout) over a wheelbarrow and garden full of blooms below. Betty says she had her most successful display of blue larkspurs ever this year, that stand an impressive one-metre tall. Betty’s yellow calendulas “look like sunshine” and sit proud alongside masses of gorgeous white alyssum, bold blue lobelias and even sculpted china pink shrubs.

“I started to think about my display in February and was planting by the end of May,” Betty says. With her 90th birthday coming up in January 2020, Betty says

this year’s entry might have been her last for the Carnival, although she admits she’ll never say never.

As well as Betty’s award wins, Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba’s own grounds were Highly Commended in the city’s “Commercial Premises” category.

Royalty in our ranks We knew our Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba homeowner community was pretty special, but did you know we have local royalty in our ranks? In 1963, Merle Steven was named Carnival Queen at the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and in 1971, Judy Zimmerle also held the title (both pictured above). These beauties received their respective crowns for their charitable work in fundraising. Well done, ladies!

Spring is a wonderful season to visit Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba. There’s still time to enjoy the beauty of our city’s Carnival gardens and our resort grounds too. To book your resort tour, phone the Sales Centre on 1800 280 129.

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TWELVE MONTHS ON… THIS TIME LAST YEAR, EARTHMOVING EQUIPMENT WAS MAKING FIRST IMPRESSIONS ON THE CONSTRUCTION SITE OF PALM LAKE RESORT CALOUNDRA CAY. TWELVE MONTHS DOWN THE TRACK AND THERE’S NO SIGN OF THINGS SLOWING DOWN!

NEWS in BRIEFWITH 26 DIFFERENT LOCATIONS ACROSS THE EAST COAST OF AUSTRALIA, THERE’S ALWAYS LOADS GOING ON WITHIN THE PALM LAKE GROUP…

CARE CONTINUES TO GROW

As this edition of Time for You magazine goes to press, we can announce that the Palm Lake Group has secured a parcel of land adjacent to Palm Lake Resort Bargara to extend the footprint of this popular resort location. Read more about it on Page 13.

STOP THE PRESS!

FULL STEAM AHEAD FOR FORSTER

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PALM LAKE RESORT Forster is the newest address to join the Palm Lake Group - and one of the most exciting! Situated right on Wallis Lake, we have commenced construction in earnest. Earthworks and civils are underway and we’ve also started dredging Boomerang Cove (pictured below) in readiness for revetment walls, pontoons and our gorgeous lakeside reception centre.

This resort will enjoy a luxury Florida seaside holiday theme by the time we welcome our first lucky residents in mid-2020. There are six stunning home designs in Stage 1– keep an eye out for floorplans which will soon be released. With one- and two-storey homes (with lifts) planned, the best home sites will enjoy coveted lakefront positions and there will even be marina berths available for those ‘toys’ that make our homeowners’ retirement years the most rewarding. As part of this safe, secure, gated community, you can also expect an eight-rink championship undercover lawn bowls green, tenpin bowling alley, tennis and pickleball courts, cinema, swimming pools, bistros and bars, walking tracks, a waterfront boardwalk, virtual golf, workshop, caravan and boat storage, Porsche-inspired Milon gymnasium and even a party boat for homeowners to use – all delivered over the life of the development.

An aged caring community will also be part of this development in the coming years, providing a convenient and complete retirement solution. Need to know more? Freecall the Sales Centre on 1800 756 740.

HAVE YOU HEARD about our “Festivals of Fun” across Palm Lake Resorts Cooroy-Noosa and Beachmere Bay? This is a coordinated series of social and sporting events between now and Christmas, for residents and resort visitors. Think tai chi morning teas, cocktail parties, dinner with trivia, and more. If you’re thinking about touring one of these resorts, now is a great time – we’d love you to immerse yourself in the Palm Lake Resort lifestyle while you’re here! To book your visit at Palm Lake Resort Cooroy-Noosa, freecall 1800 885 851. For Beachmere Bay, the freecall number is 1800 338 382.

‘FUN’ IS THE NAME OF THE GAME

A LOT HAS HAPPENED at 96 Village Way, Caloundra, in the past 12 months. From heavy machinery carving out the first roads, to luxury homes and Caribbean-inspired facilities popping up. Now, there’s an ever-expanding community of vibrant homeowners who add the final (and most important) touch to this world-class development. Sales manager Alysia Nechvoglod says interest in Caloundra Cay is at an all-time high. A section of Stage 4 was recently released to help answer demand.

“Our team is seeing an influx of enquiry with people interested in securing their piece of Caloundra Cay so they can be here in time for the festive season,” Alysia says. “It’ll be great to have a host of new families here to help us celebrate our first Caloundra Cay Christmas!”

A modern new Sales Centre has recently been unveiled on-site. Inspiring in its Caribbean styling

(just like the rest of this resort), this space is also offering some user-friendly modern technology. Large screens offer interactive software to take potential new homeowners inside their future homes. The colour selection room is also now located in this modern new centre – a place where the important final details of dream homes come together right before our deposit holders’ (very excited) eyes. Upstairs in our Sales Centre is our resort caretakers’ home and the building also houses a resort hairdresser and additional retail space.

Alysia says her Caloundra Cay sales team has also been busy putting the final touches on a variety of resort events for the run up to Christmas. She encouraged interested visitors to make sure they had their name on the Caloundra Cay list to be invited along to join in. To find out more, head online to the Caloundra Cay website.

www.caloundracay.com.au

Melbourne Cup soiree: Fashion, fillies and fun. Join us on Melbourne Cup Day to enjoy the race that will stop a resort! RSVP essential.

Monthly information sessions: We’re swinging open the doors and inviting you to enjoy morning tea and a tour, with us. To keep up with demand, we have these sessions on a monthly basis.

Inter-resort games: Our upcoming Games Days will pit Palm Lake Resort Caloundra Cay residents against sister location, Beachmere Bay, in a battle for community lifestyle resort domination – well, not really - it’s more about just having fun together, because that we do best at Palm Lake Resort!

WHAT’S ON AT CALOUNDRA CAY

CONSTRUCTION OF OUR Palm Lake Care Beachmere aged caring community is progressing well. Once it’s complete in mid-2020, construction will begin in earnest at our Caloundra site. We are also currently refreshing designs for our Palm Lake Care Toowoomba project. Once the construction team for Toowoomba hands that completed build over (forecast for October 2020), they will start at our Cooroy-Noosa site. Exciting times ahead! For more, contact our Care Solutions team on 1800 246 677.

Pictured, Palm Lake Resort Caloundra Cay’s Martinique display home.

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WITH BEAUTIFUL BEACHES, QUAINT CAFES AND ROUGHLY THE SAME LATITUDE AND TROPICAL CLIMATE AS HAWAII (HAWAII IS 20° NORTH OF THE EQUATOR, BARGARA 25° SOUTH), WE THINK THE SLEEPY SEASIDE TOWN OF BARGARA IS ONE OF QUEENSLAND’S BEST KEPT SECRETS. WHICH IS WHY THERE’S A PALM LAKE RESORT AND PALM LAKE CARE THERE!

Turtle time No Queensland beach is more synonymous with turtle sightings than Bargara’s Mon Repos. Stop in at the turtle centre to learn about the conservation and research programs protecting the endangered marine turtles, and be sure to take your place in the tour group – led by expert park rangers – to see turtles nesting from November to January. If you return in the early months of the year, you’ll also have the chance to watch young hatchlings dig free and make their momentous journey to the ocean. These popular tours have limited availability, so make sure you plan ahead to experience this once-in-a-

lifetime opportunity. Bookings are essential online or via the Bundaberg Visitor Info Centre.

Stroll or swim?Visitors and locals looking to make the most of the stunning scenery and temperate climate are certainly spoilt for choice – Bargara is home to a number of walking paths and swimming spots. The Turtle Trail links Kelly’s Beach in Bargara to Burnett Heads Harbour, allowing walkers to take in some of the most popular areas of the Coral Coast along the way. For those keen to explore Bargara’s natural surrounds, there is a bevy of reserves and nature parks around town – not to

mention picturesque beaches. And, for those keen to float around with some 450 manta rays, why not hop across to Lady Elliot Island for a day trip?

Next-door neighboursBargara really does have everything – close proximity to the birthplace of Australia’s favourite spirit included. Founded in 1888, the Bundaberg Rum Distillery has quenched thirsts and captured hearts across the nation ever since. A mainstay on Aussie bar carts and festive baking recipes alike (Bundaberg rum balls are definitely better than regular Christmas rum balls!), a visit to this Queensland icon is requisite when visiting the region.

suburb spotlight

BARGARA

In exciting news for the Palm Lake Group, we have secured a parcel of land adjacent to Palm Lake Resort Bargara to extend the footprint of this popular tropical resort location. CEO Manuel Lang says the extension fronts Rifle Range Road and will house 100 new homes including our highly sought after RV designs. There will also be a large activities and recreation centre added on this site, for the use of all residents. The Group is already working with residents to finalise their preferred inclusions for this facility which may include, among other things, a tenpin bowling alley, billiards room, bar, outdoor fire pit and more. Construction of new homes here will begin in 12 months’ time. For those interested in this development, Palm Lake Resort’s ‘Priority Purchase Offer’ exists. If you purchase a home in the existing Palm Lake Resort Bargara with a view to buying in the new stage, you will enjoy significant benefits that can be explained best by our Sales Team on 1800 501 119 or salesbargara@palmlakeresort.com.au

OUR RESORT IS GROWING!

THE BEACHMERE DIFFERENCERIGHT ACROSS OUR COUNTRY, THERE’S NO BETTER GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION THAN QUEENSLAND TO ENJOY A HAMPTONS-STYLE HOLIDAY EVERY DAY. WHEN IT COMES TO THE REAL HAMPTONS, OUR BEACHMERE BAY RESORT OFFERS SOME SURPRISING PARALLELS.

WHEN YOU THINK of New York, Long Island and the Hamptons, the suburb of Beachmere (north of Brisbane) might not pop straight into mind. But when you consider the individual characteristics that make the Hamptons such a coveted international celebrity holiday hotspot, we aren’t lacking much, in comparison, here in the Sunshine State. Hamptons’ homes are set on a backdrop of coastal beauty. That also describes Queensland’s coastline. There’s a laidback, casual approach to life in the Hamptons. Ditto Queensland. And Hamptons homes offer breezy alfresco dining and entertaining spaces with sophisticated style. And that’s Beachmere Bay to a tee. And speaking of tees, Sales Consultant Nicole Smith says Beachmere Bay’s dedicated nine-hole golf course is almost complete, with residents already utilising the first five complete holes. The course winds its way around the resort’s picturesque lakes and shady trees, and residents can bring their friends and family along to play a round with them. With a pro shop and golf buggies earmarked for the future, this resort facility brings even more of the holiday Hamptons vibe to Beachmere.

“But the aspect that makes Beachmere Bay really stand out is that we are situated right across the road from the beach,” Nicole says. “Our residents like to take their dogs for beach walks, or cast a line in. We’ve also got kayaks and paddleboards on the way for residents’ use this summer – all these things help keep our community active and social.”

And speaking of the social nature of Beachmere Bay, the Hamptons Country Club now offers two weekly two-course meal options – Wednesday dinner and Thursday lunch – with Netflix now also available in the luxury movie theatre. And, of course, don’t forget there’s an amazing multipurpose waterfront Beach House for all residents’ use. It provides the perfect location for casual drinks and catch ups, or celebratory events.

Why would you cross the globe to holiday in the Hamptons when you could live a parallel holiday everyday right here?

www.beachmerebay.com.au

SPRING EDITION 2019

Pictured, Palm Lake Resort Beachmere Bay’s Eastport design.

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AROUND THE GROUNDS

HERE’S A LITTLE OF WHAT’S BEEN HAPPENING OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS, AROUND THE GROUNDS OF THE DIFFERENT PALM LAKE RESORT LOCATIONS…

ROCK ‘N ROLL REVELRY

To say Frankie J Holden and Wilbur Wilde rocked the roof off Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba’s Pinnacle Country Club at our rock ‘n roll open day would be an understatement! Were you among the 450+ lucky ones who enjoyed the boys’ two free concerts, along with visiting classic cars, free food and drinks, resort tours and more?

LIFE’S A BEACH (PARTY)

Eighty guests enjoyed a sophisticated Hamptons-style soiree at Palm Lake Resort Beachmere Bay’s own Beach House recently. Turkey burger sliders and key lime pie set the scene. Make some time to visit Beachmere Bay to enjoy this kind of quintessential Hamptons experience for yourself.

MEALS WITH MATES Pictured below: If there’s one thing that brings a community together, it’s food. Caloundra Cay residents enjoy hearty meals together each week in Hemingway’s Country Club. Did you know that every Palm Lake Resort home receives a free meal voucher every week? What a great excuse to dine out!

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LOCK IT AND LEAVE

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A STEREOTYPICAL RETIREMENT might entail downsizing, but more so it’s a ‘right-sizing’ of life as people find more time for the adventures and other recreational activities that make this era so rewarding. Motorhomes, caravans, boats, jet skis and more are just some of the recreational ‘toys’ that many Palm Lake Resort residents own and so, storage becomes a big consideration when deciding on the right home. Luckily, Palm Lake Resort designers have taken this into account and have developed RV homes that offer floorplans with longer, wider garages and high garage door openings.

Willie Nelson summed up perfectly the attitude of many

Palm Lake Resort residents when he released hit song ‘On the road

again’ back in 1980. “Goin’ places that I’ve never been. Seein’ things

that I may never see again - I can’t wait to get on the road again.”

travel

>> Continued on Page 18

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These RV homes are some of the most popular designs across the whole Palm Lake Group based simply upon the flexibility they provide home owners. Instead of having to put their caravan or motorhome into external storage, residents who opt for our RV homes can drive that recreational vehicle straight into their own garage. It makes for the most convenient pre-trip pack up and unpack on your return, and keeps those RVs secure and out of the elements.

At Palm Lake Resort Bargara, the Flame Tree RV design offers an almost 63sqm garage (10.8m long and 5.8m wide, internally) with a 3.4m-high garage door opening. Bargara also offers the Pandanus RV home with its massive 62sqm double garage complete with over-height opening. Over at Palm Lake Resort Cooroy-Noosa, the

Coolum RV design offers another mega-garage measuring 6.55m x 4.17m with additional RV parking of 9.98m x 1.97m. Again, an over-height garage door opening makes parking your RV a breeze. Automatic garage doors with remotes and seamless epoxy flooring complete the picture for all our RV garages. As each of our Palm Lake Resorts differ in the home designs they offer, you should check in with your preferred resort location to see which floorplans suit your requirement best.

While storage for your RV is important, what really sells our Palm Lake Resort homes for those who cant wait to get “on the road again” is the ‘lock it and leave’ aspect. You see, as residents watch their Palm Lake Resort home disappear in the rearview mirror of their motorhome or tow vehicle,

there are no security concerns. Their home is safe and sound behind our resort gates, and ‘neighbourhood watch’ takes on a more impressive (and literal) definition within our lifestyle communities. We’ll even make sure your front yard is maintained while you’re gone! Palm Lake Resort’s maintenance-free homes couldn’t be more appreciated after a long stint away.

It’s important to note that for those caravanners who decide on a non-RV garage home design, Palm Lake Resort offers caravan storage facilities in all new resorts with many locations also offering a wash down bay to help you take care of that prized asset. The retirement years really are a fun adventure. And none more so than when living in a Palm Lake Resort!

DID YOU KNOW, it’s not only caravans, motorhomes and other recreational toys that Palm Lake Resort residents are storing in their over-sized RV garages. More than three years ago, Palm Lake Resort Bargara residents Ngari and Kel Pearce specifically sought out an RV garage home - but have never owned a caravan. True story! Instead, for artist Ngari, her RV garage is actually an art studio-cum-gallery that is also the location of a weekly social gathering of resort art enthusiasts.

“I have more than 20 pieces hanging on the walls in the garage alone, and there are easels lined up along there as well,” Ngari explains. “We have up to 10 people who meet here weekly on a Friday afternoon. We paint socially, but mainly there’s lots of laughing!”

The additional space the RV garage provides is also perfect for Ngari’s industrial-style storage units and drawers full of art supplies. Ngari works predominantly in acrylics but also dabbles in pastels and mixed media.

“We all really appreciate the facilities and activities that Palm Lake Resort offers us as well – like the art group and drawing classes in the Country Club – but this space is just that bit bigger for everyone to spread out with their easels. Oh, and the car goes in there as well!”

TO RV OR NOT TO RV…

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HINTS FOR OLDER TRAVELLERS

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Travel off peak to save Visiting destinations during their off-peak or shoulder season presents many benefits to travellers — a smaller price tag, to be sure, but also cooler weather and fewer crowds.

Take your time Alternate methods of travel can be more attractive on the hip pocket. Train travel has long been popular overseas. The many hassles of flying (from security checkpoints to the uncomfortable flight itself) can be avoided by riding the rails. Renting a car is another option for self-guided and self-paced scenic travel.

Travel with friends or family Significant cost savings abound if you bring along your children, grandchildren or other travel pals. A triple- or quad-share cabin on a cruise can save you money and can also double as a fantastic opportunity for bonding and creating lasting memories together. Now that’s priceless.

Purchase travel insurance Travel insurance is essential for older travellers who are more at risk of falling, getting sick or needing extra meds if travel plans change. Take the time to read the fine print, as some scenarios (eg. pre-existing medical conditions) may not be covered.

Don’t advertise your absence Don’t put the “Clean my room” sign on your door as it is an open invitation to let people know that the room is empty. Engage the security chain on your door whenever you’re in your room. Ask for a room near the elevator (more foot traffic will deter thieves). Stay away from ground-floor rooms where window entry is possible.

Mind your meds Take as much care with your medications as you do your money and passports. Never pack your meds in checked luggage and don’t leave them lying around your hotel room. Keep separate paperwork with the names

and dosages of any medicines so you can try to replace them if needed, or explain them through immigration.

Keep the bling to a minimum Carrying items like nice jewellery, gold watches and fancy cameras makes you a target for thieves. Unless you’re going to Richard Branson’s Necker Island, you might want to consider leaving the bling at home. Your smartphone will take pretty good photos nowadays.

Stay safe on your feet Beyond wearing comfortable shoes to get through full days of walking and touring, wearing flats will help senior travellers stay steady on their feet.

Keep others in the loop If you’re traveling solo, keep others apprised of your daily itinerary, including your hotel concierge. Keep a mobile phone on you at all times. Before you depart, print and share your travel documents with family and friends at home.

WHETHER THE TRAVEL BUG HAS ALWAYS BEEN AROUND OR HAPPENED TO BITE A BIT LATER IN LIFE, YOUR RETIREMENT YEARS ARE AN EXCELLENT TIME TO TRAVEL. HERE ARE SOME TRAVEL TIPS TO GET YOU OUT AND ABOUT FOR LESS, AND IN A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE MANNER.

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MANY OF OUR PALM LAKE RESORT RESIDENTS ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR ADVENTURING SPIRIT. THEY LOVE THE ‘LOCK IT AND LEAVE’ ASPECT OF OUR COMMUNITY LIFESTYLE RESORTS WHERE YOUR HOME IS SECURE AND YOUR FRONT LAWN IS TAKEN CARE OF, ALL WHILE YOU EXPLORE THE WORLD. HERE ARE SOME OF THEIR TRAVEL TIPS TO INSPIRE YOU.

COLIN & AGNES WRIGHT PALM LAKE RESORT BARGARA

Colin is the facilitator of the Palm Lake Resort Bargara RV Roamers travel enthusiast group. The owners of around 60 vans from the resort form the RV Roamers. Colin organises a mix of short and long trips for members, many within three hours’ drive. Among the RV Roamers’ recent trips, they’ve camped at Woodgate, Mingo Crossing and Hervey Bay.

How extensively have you caravanned around Australia? We spent five years fulltime in a caravan from 2010-2015. It’s a large rig (25.5ft caravan) - it’s a house on wheels!

What are your all-time favourite locations and why? 1. Arnhem Land and through The Kimberley. It doesn’t feel like Australia at all - that area is like the plains of Africa without the animals. The closest thing to it that we’d seen was Grand Canyon – it takes your breath away. 2. The Pilbara, for its amazing gorges and waterfalls. 3. Tassie. There’s something about the ‘oldness’ and the quaintness of the place. The downside is the cost to get there. We spent six months in Tasmania and everything is so close – you just have to drive 50km and you are in a completely different area. So much diversity.

Tell us about a surprise hidden travel gem? There have been so many! In WA, The Pinnacles really amazed us. It was something quite different (it does take an awful lot to impress you after five years on the road!). We also loved the Daly Waters Pub. It was incredible!

What things can’t you live without when travelling in your caravan? A proper coffee machine (not a pod machine – we need a grinder!), generator, electric reclining beds, satellite phone, CB radio, airbag suspension.

How do you pass the time while driving? Listening to audio books and audio comedy shows. We also like to stop often and explore. We’re never in a hurry. If we see something interesting, we’ll always stop to have a look – we’ve got all the time in the world when we’re on the road!

What’s your fave road trip song/artist? Jimmy Barnes.

JOHN & SHERRIL MATHESON PALM LAKE RESORT EAGLEBY

John is the facilitator of the RV Road Runners travel enthusiast group at the resort. The Mathesons have lived at the Eagleby resort for seven years “and we wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!” John enthuses. John has also organised the annual Eagleby vs Bargara inter-resort lawn bowls comp at Murgon for the past five years.

How extensively have you caravanned? We have averaged 20,000km per year for the past six years. We spend 4-5 months of the year on the road.

What is your all-time favourite destination and why? Good question. It’d be Lake Dyer at Laidley. It’s only an hour from home. We can easily pack up and go out there for a week. It’s nice and green out there too.

Tell us about a surprise hidden travel gem? Hopetoun, Victoria. It’s in the middle of Victoria’s Silo Art Trail. You camp on Lake Lascelles, right on the water’s edge, and it’s an absolutely beautiful place to stop. Nice clean showers and toilets. Only $10 per night donation to stay. You can use it as a base to explore Patchewollock in the north or Rupanyup in the south. Also, “Spanner Man” who lives in Boort, Victoria. His real name is John Piccoli and he’s been in a wheelchair since he was eight. He makes sculptures out of spanners. He can’t raise his arms above his shoulders so he uses a block and tackle. His statues are all around town too. You can do a tour of his place for $10.

Do you have any tips to share with fellow travellers? For those interested in the Lions Club but you spend a lot of time on the road, you can join the Australian Lionsonoz - a group for travelling/caravanning Lions members that connects them with Lions projects around the country (John is the admin of the Australian Lionsonoz Facebook group).

What’s your fave road trip song/artist? Anything country!

TONY & PRUE GROUNDS PALM LAKE RESORT BEACHMERE BAY

How extensively have you travelled? We did 15 countries in Europe in 1982, over about six weeks. We’ve both been to America and England – Tony has had to go for work a few times, too – as well as Fiji, Tahiti and the north island of New Zealand. After all of that, we chopped up our passports and said, “Let’s make Australia home”. We are on a five-month trip around Australia right now – we’ve done the top half and we’re heading south now.

What is your all-time favourite destination and why? Horizontal Falls was a real bucket list destination. We flew out on a seaplane, stayed on a houseboat and waited until the conditions were perfect before entering the falls. We also loved the Grampians.

Tell us about a surprise hidden travel gem? We think Darwin is a fabulous place – there’s so much to see and do, and a lot of history. One thing that’s really surprised us throughout our Australian travels is how much of it was affected by World War II.

Do you have a travel life hack to share with fellow travellers? Whatever you pack is probably three times as much as you need!

What things do you pack from home, that you can’t live without? An iPhone equipped with apps like Wikicamp, Campermate and Mapsme, to name just a few of the good ones.

crowd-sourced

TRAVEL TIPS

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GLENDA & KEN COCKMAN PALM LAKE RESORT TEA GARDENS

How extensively have you travelled? We both had a lot of opportunity to travel when we worked at Qantas. We have done a lot of the US mainland (we’ve probably visited over 30 times since we got married in 1972) and England to see family. We’ve also done two trips to Europe – one by coach and one by river cruise – and we’ve been to Fiji, too. We’re getting into cruising now and can’t wait to add more to our list.

What is your all-time favourite location and why? It’s so hard to pick just one! It would probably be the USA in general – it’s full of interesting places. Alaska has the most beautiful scenery. We also loved Singapore.

Tell us about a surprise hidden gem you’ve discovered on your travels? It’s not quite a hidden gem, but it was completely different to anything we’ve experienced before – the Amish country in Pennsylvania. You feel like you’re in another world because of the way they live. It’s so different from the modern world, and it’s all just a few hours from New York City and Washington, DC. Another incredible place we visited was Monument Valley in Utah – it’s part of a Navajo reservation and the scenery is incredible. They filmed a lot of old Westerns there, as well as Forest Gump.

Do you have a travel life hack to share with fellow travellers? I get out the atlas or the map – we always collect road maps on our travels – and use Trip Advisor to find the best hotels. I do a lot of research and work out an itinerary. When we travel to the US, we make sure we stay somewhere that has a Red Lobster restaurant. It’s our favourite.

What one thing do you pack from home, that you can’t live without? You’ll probably laugh, but the first thing I organise is always a small jar of Vegemite.

How do you pass the time while flying? You’ll usually find me watching the in-flight movies or documentaries, and getting a bit of sleep if it’s a long haul flight.

Colin says the caravan storage facility at Palm Lake Resort Bargara is “fantastic” as is the resort’s wash down bay, which includes air hose, vacuum and water blaster.

“It really is a world-class resort,” Colin says. “You’ve got everything you could possibly want right here.”

Colin admits that it was his wife, Agnes, who encouraged them to explore Palm Lake Resort when they realised their home (that they built adjacent to the Coral Cove Golf Course upon their return from their big van trip) was just “way too quiet” for them. Especially after being on the road for so long and meeting thousands of people along the way!

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SPRING EDITION 2019

SNAP AND SAVE YOUR HOLIDAY MEMORIES LIKE A PRO WITH THESE EXPERT PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS.

SAVOUR the MOMENT

travel

01 Whether you’re shooting on your smartphone or your camera, keep your elbows close to your body and your hands around chest height. This will keep the camera nice and still and prevent blurry images.

02 Focus, focus. Play around with focusing your camera or phone before you head out so that you get the hang of it. Whether it’s done by tapping the screen or half-pressing your shutter button, knowing what to do ahead of time will ensure yOu don’t miss that special moment.

03 If you’re using a camera, always keep a second SD card and a spare battery handy. If you’re using your phone as a camera, invest in a portable charger.

04 Work with the light. You’ll want it behind you, shining onto your subject, for the best result. Experiment with flash, even if it’s during the day.

05 If the equipment you’re shooting with has a WiFi connection (like a phone, or a smart camera) try uploading your photos to a shared folder at the end of each day. That way, friends and family at home can receive up-to-date snaps from your time away, and your photos will be safely stored for when you return.

06 Alternatively, consider creating a digital journal on social media – a Facebook page/group or Instagram account is a great way to help document your travels, and you can choose who sees what you upload. Your captions will remind you where, when and why you took each snap. It’ll be just like a photo album – but digital. And the Facebook ‘memories’ function will have you remembering your best travel adventures long after you’ve cleaned the outback dust from your car.

Top reads

The Travel Atlas by Lonely Planet The ultimate resource for globetrotters. If you’re looking for a travel book that covers everything – from pole to pole, east to west – this is it.

Frommer’s Australia by Lee Mylne Everything you need for a successful Australian vacation, in one intelligent guide. Brought to you by Brisbane-based travel journalist who has spent her life criss-crossing borders.

Top apps

Fuel Up Australia: Save money at the pump and find the cheapest fuel near you with this handy app – the perfect road trip companion.

WikiCamps Australia: A crowd-sourced database of campgrounds, caravan parks, hostels, day stops, points of interest, dump sites and so much more. It works offline for off-track adventures.

Roadtrippers: This map is purpose-built for travellers, helping you plan your next road trip by connecting you with inspirational destinations and practical information.

XE Currency: Travelling overseas? Here’s a pocket companion you’ll love. You simply add the currencies you need, enter the amount in question and the app converts the digits for you quickly and easily.

FIND YOUR TRAVEL INSPIRATION AND PLAN YOUR NEXT ADVENTURE WITH THE HELP OF THESE BOOKS AND APPS.

TRAVEL LIKE A PRO

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LOOKING FOR A REASON TO HIT THE ROAD? HERE ARE SOME OF NEXT YEAR’S BIGGEST, FUNNEST AND SOMETIMES OBSCURE-EST EVENTS THAT FORM THE PERFECT EXCUSE FOR A ROAD TRIP - SO GET PLANNING! AND IF YOU’RE STILL CONTEMPLATING A MOVE TO PALM LAKE RESORT, DON’T FORGET THAT MANY OF OUR NEW RESORTS OFFER A ‘STAY A NIGHT FOR FREE’ PROMOTION (T&CS APPLY). MAYBE YOU CAN KILL TWO BIRDS WITH ONE STONE AND TOUR ONE OF OUR NEWEST PALM LAKE RESORTS WHILE YOU ARE OUT SEEKING ADVENTURE!

TRAVEL DIARIES

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THE PARKES ELVIS FESTIVAL JANUARY 8-20, 2020

Timed perfectly to coincide with Elvis Presley’s birthday, the Parkes Elvis Festival has been running for 28 years and shows no sign of stopping. Held every year in the second week in January, the Festival features more than 200 events across five fabulous, fun-filled days. www.parkeselvisfestival.com.au

TAMWORTH COUNTRY MUSIC FESTIVAL JANUARY 17-26, 2020

Australia’s largest music festival – and one of the top 10 music festivals in the world – Tamworth’s calendar highlight honours country music in all its forms with over 700 performers and 2,800 shows across 120 different venues. From the hundreds of buskers in Peel Street to the pinnacle event, the Golden Guitars Country Music Awards, this is one music festival you won’t want to miss. www.tcmf.com.au

COOLY ROCKS ON JUNE 3-7, 2020

Australia’s favourite rock’n’roll nostalgia festival, Cooly Rocks On brings music, dancing, cars and good old-fashioned fun to the Gold Coast’s shores. Set on a combination of outdoor stages and venues within the beachside streetscape of iconic Coolangatta, Cooly Rocks On is the one-stop-shop for lovers of vintage memorabilia and good times. www.coolyrockson.com

BIRDSVILLE RACES SEPTEMBER 2020

JANUARY

NOOSA FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL MAY 14-18, 2020

With five mouth-watering days of seaside drinking and dining, Noosa Food & Wine Festival is an unmissable event for any foodie or wine connoisseur. From beachfront brunches and dinners with celebrity chefs to live cooking demonstrations and a party under the stars, come and celebrate good food and good wine in one of Australia’s favourite holiday destinations. www.noosafoodandwine.com.au

MAY

JUNE

BIG RED BASH JULY 7-9, 2020Join thousands of people from around the world under the open skies of the Simpson Desert for the most remote music festival on the planet. Dance to the sweet sounds of Aussie music legends as they rock the desert by night and get in on the fun during the day – whether it’s dune surfing, a helicopter flight or camel rides. www.bigredbash.com.au

JULY

SEPTEMBER

TOOWOOMBA CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS SEPTEMBER 2020

Since its inception in 1949, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers has blossomed into one of Australia’s most beloved and long-running floral events. Last year’s carnival drew in over 250,000 attendees, all gathered to see the city come alive with flowers, food, frivolity and fun. www.tcof.com.au

WHALE WATCHING MAY TO NOVEMBER EACH YEAR

Each year, during the cooler months, Aussies on the coastline are treated to one of the ocean’s most beautiful natural spectacles. Keep an eye out for southern right and humpback whales as they head north for warmer waters, particularly around Hervey Bay – the coastal Queensland town is perfectly positioned adjacent to a ‘nursery’, where humpback whales often stop to breed and nurse their calves. www.australia.com

MAY TO NOVEMBER

✱Palm Lake Resort Cooroy-Noosa is just 25 minutes’ drive into the hinterland

from Noosa’s iconic Hastings Street. The perfect blend of

treechange meets seachange, you will be impressed by this

resort’s Pavilion Country Club.

✱ Palm Lake Resort Beachmere Bay

sits literally on the edge of Moreton Bay, alongside the Humpback

Highway. Whale watching tours depart from Redcliffe, just south

of Beachmere. If you’re planning a whale watching expedition, drop in to Beachmere Bay and inspect the

Hamptons-inspired elegance.

✱Not only does Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba take out Carnival of

Flowers awards year after year for our immaculately landscaped resort gardens, but our residents and their gardens too, have claimed their fair

share of carnival awards over the years. If you’re in Toowoomba for the Carnival of Flowers in 2020, you must inspect our twin Palm Lake Resorts at Toowoomba.

They are bloomin’ beauties at this time of the year!

With all the fanfare and excitement of a typical racing meet superimposed on the dramatic and dusty desert landscape, the Birdsville Races is an event like no other – and it’s not just because Birdsville is one of the only tracks in Queensland that run anti-clockwise. Join over 6000 racegoers enjoying two days of quality outback racing and three great nights of live entertainment. www.birdsvilleraces.com

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THE GREAT OCEAN ROAD IS ONE OF AUSTRALIA’S MOST ICONIC PILGRIMAGES, BUT DRIVING IS ONLY ONE WAY TO DO IT. HERE ARE A FEW OTHER OPTIONS…

By water While a surfboard or kayak may not be the best way to tour the Great Ocean Road in its entirety, getting out on the water while you drive, cycle or walk the area is a must-do. Paddle out to sea on a kayak or canoe and explore the region from the beautiful bays for an unparalleled view of the road itself, or head inland to Lake Elizabeth in the Otways for a peaceful paddle down the Glenelg River. It’s here you’ll find an ancient cave and maybe, if you’re lucky, spot the region’s most elusive residents – the platypus – in their natural habitat. For the young-at-heart, you can even pick up a board and surf the famed breaks of Victoria’s west coast, like Bells Beach and Discovery Bay.

By foot If you want to take your time to soak up the scenery and get in some light exercise while you’re at it, well, the Great Ocean Walk is for you. Hugging coastline for more than 100km, the walk winds from Apollo Bay in the east to the iconic Twelve Apostles in the west. Taking you beneath tall trees, across rock seashore platforms and all

DO IT DIFFERENTLY

✱ DID YOU KNOW...September 19, 2019, marked the 100-year anniversary of the day construction commenced on the Great Ocean Road? What a milestone!

travel

WINDING FROM BEACH TO BUSHLAND, THROUGH MOUNTAIN RANGES AND ACROSS STATE LINES, AUSTRALIA’S PATCHWORK OF PAINTED GRAIN SILOS IS TRULY A SIGHT TO BEHOLD. OVER TWO DOZEN TOWERING ARTWORKS ARE BRINGING OUT-OF-TOWNERS TO SOME OF THE COUNTRY’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES…

WHEN YOU’RE PLANNING your trip to see Australia’s painted silos, it’s not so much a question of ‘where to begin?’ as it is ‘where to end?’ – you could quite literally spend months ticking each and every artwork off your list. The artworks themselves are as diverse as the towns you’ll find them in. Some are vignettes of life in the country, others stylised depictions of Aussie wildlife and historic moments.

The first silosIf you’re a ‘let’s start at the very beginning’ kind of explorer, you’ll want to head straight to Northam in Western Australia – this is the home of the country’s first two painted silos, completed in 2015. One silo (by UK artist ‘Phlegm’) honours Northam’s rich aviation history, while the other (by US artist ‘Hense’) is a rich kaleidoscope of colour bearing resemblance to some Indigenous art styles. Combined, these two silos took 400+ hours to complete.

Start smallPerhaps the best place to see a number of silos in relatively close proximity is Victoria’s painted silo trail. Stretching 200km between Rupanyup and Patchewollock, seeing all seven silo stops should take around two hours – but those wanting to take their time should consider spending a night here and there along the way. A notable mention includes Victoria’s first painted silo in Brim, by artist Guido van Helten.

Plan your tripSilo trail explorers have two people (one woman in particular) to thank for collating all of the information from all over the country into one handy website. Annette and Eric Green’s website is the go-to resource for adventurers keen to see all or part of the silo trail during their travels. With maps and information on where to find not only grain silos, but painted water tanks, too, consider Australian Silo Art Trail your must-have guide to the ultimate road trip.

www.australiansiloarttrail.com

TOURING THE SILO TRAILS

the way up to the clifftops, the walk includes a mixture of tracks, gradients and surfaces. Expect to pound the pavement in some areas and feel the sand beneath your toes in others, following the marked tracks to stay safe and on track. Make the most of the guided tours or arrange transport to help you along your chosen route, and be sure to book in advance if you’re looking to camp under the stars between hikes.

By bike Adorned with wild coastal scenery, sheer limestone cliffs and beachside towns, the Great Ocean Road is one of the most picturesque cycling tracks you could dream up. The coastal road winds through historic villages – which make for picture-perfect pitstops – and volcanic craters, as well as lush fern

gullies, rainforests and local rail trails further inland. You’ll come upon new scenery at each turn, whether it’s a magnificent lake or a steep sand dune, and no segment of the road is like any other. If you’re looking to break up your trip, take advantage of the well-maintained rail trails – you can opt to tackle the sections of the route that are best suited to your ability and inclination, from the Forrest ‘Tiger’ Rail Trail to the Coast to Crater. When to ride: Visit Victoria recommends riding the road mid-week during non-peak periods. Alternatively, time your visit to coincide with one of the many local cycling events, whether it’s ‘Around the Bay in a Day’, the Melbourne to Warrnambool Cycling Classic or the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race.

www.visitgreatoceanroad.org.au

Pictured, Grenfell, NSW. Below, Weethalle, NSW.

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STOKE THE COALSHAVE CAMP OVEN, WILL TRAVEL. ONCE YOU’VE PULLED UP AT YOUR CAMPSITE, GETTING A FIRE ON AND LOADING UP THE CAMP OVEN ARE TWO OF THE MOST SATISFYING ACHIEVEMENTS OF ANY LONG DAY ON THE ROAD. WHEN IT COMES TO CAMP OVEN COOKING IDEAS, WE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE EXPERTS – HERE ARE SOME RECIPES FROM THE ORGANISERS OF THE AUSTRALIAN CAMP OVEN FESTIVAL.

✱ THE AUSTRALIAN CAMP OVEN FESTIVAL is a biennial event that celebrates the tradition of camp oven cooking. What started as a little friendly competition around the campfire has evolved to become one of Queensland’s flagship tourism events and Australia’s most iconic camp oven festival. The next festival will be held on October 3-4, 2020, in Millmerran, Queensland and will celebrate authentic Aussie traditions including camp oven cooking, damper throwing, billy boiling, bush poetry, country music and bush heritage displays. www.acof.com.au

SIMPLE FRUIT CAKEServes 30

Ingredients1kg dried mixed fruit700ml chocolate milk2 cups (300g) self raising flourCooking oil spray

Method: Soak the mixed fruit in the chocolate milk overnight in the fridge. Preheat the camp oven to around 150°C. Grease a 25cm square cake tin and line the base and sides with baking paper, with the paper coming over the sides by about 5cm. Spray the paper with some cooking spray. Sift the flour into the soaked fruit one cup at a time and mix in well after each addition. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin. Bake for 1½-2 hours. After 1½ hours insert a skewer or cake tester into the centre of the cake and if it comes out clean your cake is ready. Cool the cake in the tin for 30 minutes then turn onto a wire rack to fully cool. Whilst this recipe calls for chocolate milk, you can substitute with iced coffee, orange juice, apple juice or black tea. Many have also said they have substituted with pineapple juice or crushed pine-apple. Note: You may need extra flour if using tea/juices.

ROAST CHICKEN WITH STUFFING Serves 4

Ingredients1.6kg whole fresh chicken Sea salt Freshly ground black pepper 1 onion, chopped finely 2 teaspoons olive oil 3 cups fresh breadcrumbs 40g softened butter 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind 2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage Handful of chopped bacon, if desired

Method: Put camp oven onto the coals to warm up the oven. Wash and clean chicken thoroughly. Pat dry with paper towelling. To make stuffing, cook onion and bacon (if using) in oil until softened. Add to remaining stuffing ingredients and mix well. Place the stuffing inside the cavity of the chicken. Tuck the wings back and tie the base of the chicken with cooking string so that the legs are crossed and securely positioned. Place chicken, breast side up on a wire rack in the camp oven. Brush chicken with a little oil and salt and pepper. Bake in camp oven, for 1½ hours or until chicken is tender. Add fresh coals to the lid for the last 15mins if chicken needs extra colour.

HERB AND CHEESE DAMPERServes 4

Ingredients6 cups self raising flour¼ cup oil¾ cup powdered milk2 teaspoons dried mixed herbs (or more to taste)½ cup shredded cheese½ cup diced bacon

Method: Place camp oven on the coals to heat up. Place flour and powdered milk into a bowl with mixed herbs, bacon (reserving some for the top) and cheese. Add 2 ½ cups water (mix 2 cups first and then add the rest if needed) and the oil. Gently mix to a dough. Spread 2 cups of plain flour over the base of a heated camp oven, place dough on top, then sprinkle with the extra bacon. Cover the camp oven with lid, add some coals to the top of the oven and cook dough for 45-50 mins or until dough sounds hollow when tapped. Serve warm with butter.

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STOCKISTS 1. Marshall Major lii Bluetooth headphones (also available in black and white), $249.99, www.surfstitch.com 2. Otto A5 travel journal, $14.98, www.officeworks.com.au 3. Koala blue design print u-shaped travel neck pillow, $79, www.jtamigo.com 4. Globite leather luggage identifier in Flinders Tan (also available in Desert Claret Red), $34.95, www.theiconic.com.au 5. Away ‘The Weekender’ in fleet canvas (also available in black, olive, natural, flora and bay), $325, www.awaytravel.com 6. Delsey Chatalet Air small suitcase in Angora White (also available in Chocolate), $299, www.luggagedirect.com.au 7. Urban Originals Solo Origin backpack in sea green, $99, www.theiconic.com.au 8. R.M. Williams City washbag, $140, www.theiconic.com.au 9. Wanderers Travel Co. The San Sebastian cabin bag in tan (available in various colours), $549, www.wandererstravelco.com.au

WHAT STARTED AS A ONE-OFF SEWING PROJECT HAS TURNED INTO AN ONGOING COMMUNITY EFFORT TO HELP FUTURE RESIDENTS OF PALM LAKE CARE TOOWOOMBA FEEL RIGHT AT HOME. MEET THE LADIES USING THEIR PASSION FOR STITCHING FOR GOOD.

A GROUP OF Palm Lake Resort residents are combining their talents and donating their time to help make their new neighbours – the people who will be moving into the soon-to-be-developed Palm Lake Care Toowoomba – feel welcome and comfortable. More than one dozen ladies from Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba are coming together for a whole day, every Thursday, to sew colourful quilts, which they intend to donate to residents in the dementia unit of Palm Lake Care’s new aged caring community once it is completed mid-2020.

“Each quilt will be made in different colours and designs, which will hopefully be helpful for people to recognise which room is theirs,” says Christine Ingram, one of the group’s members.

The quilts will also be made using fabric donated by other residents in the Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba community, and lovingly put together in the Pinnacle Country Club craft room by the members of the ‘Stitchers and Knitters’ group.

“This is a terrific initiative and one that I know people will appreciate,” says Palm Lake Care’s Care Solutions Manager Jacinta Sutton. “We know that this gift of time and talent will truly make them feel special.”

While it isn’t the first community-minded project the Stitchers and Knitters have undertaken (they first joined forces around January of last year to stitch a quilt and cushions to raise $1640 for breast cancer research, have sold

reusable bags out of old curtains to fund their materials and regularly knit beanies for premature babies at the local hospital ), Christine says the group is excited to be focusing their efforts on making a difference within the Palm Lake Group.

“With the aged care and dementia development going up behind us, we decided it would be nicer to keep it in our community,” Christine says. “At the moment we are all working together on the first quilt while raising funds for the backing fabric and wadding that we’ll need to make the rest of the quilts, with the help of our resort’s Social Committee.”

If it weren’t for the generosity of the other Palm Lake Resort residents who have donated fabric, Christine estimates that the materials in each quilt alone would cost around $300. And while it’s no small feat – the dementia unit in the new Palm Lake Care Toowoomba will offer 24 king-single beds – Christine says that the time spent at their sewing machines is rewarding and very worthwhile.

“We’ve got a number of residents who are interested in sewing, and others who are talented at crochet and knitting,” says Christine. “If we can spend time with our like-minded neighbours while doing something good for others at the same time, why wouldn’t we?”

If you have any surplus fabric lying around to donate to this great cause, contact Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba’s caretakers on toowoomba@palmlake.com.au

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THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT’S “Institute of Health and Welfare” reported in 2018 that some 282,000 people were using residential care (permanent or respite), home care or transition care services in Australia as at June 30 that year. The report stated that of these people, women heavily outnumbered men in each program. In fact, two in three people using aged care here in Australia last year were women. So, what impact does this trend have on aged care?

While we know we are dealing with an overall aging population, with pressure on the industry to provide an ever-increasing number of aged care beds that meet and exceed the new Australian Aged Care Quality Standards, we here at Palm Lake Care have an admission policy that intentionally commits to ensuring equity of the sexes across our resident populations. And while our aspiration is to build a strong male contingent across each of our four aged

caring communities, we know that the work is not done in simply finding these male residents. We also know that male-to-male companionship is especially important in life, and therefore also in the aged care setting. Children and grandchildren always play an integral supporting role in any aged care resident’s life, but when it comes to men, they also need the stimulation of other men of their own age. Put short, blokes need other blokes.

Palm Lake Care Lifestyle Teams work hard to ensure they schedule and facilitate activities and excursions that appeal directly to the men. For example, at Palm Lake Care Bargara, there’s a group of male residents who frequent the Coral Coast Men’s Shed. According to the organisation,

“The Shed” is run especially for men and provides a place “where blokes from all walks of life can meet other blokes

RIGHT AROUND THE WORLD, STATISTICS PROVE WOMEN LIVE LONGER THAN MEN. WHILE AUSTRALIAN BUREAU OF STATISTICS DATA SHOWS THAT LIFE EXPECTANCY ON THE WHOLE IS INCREASING THROUGH THE DECADES, THE FEMALE PORTION OF OUR POPULATION IS STILL OUTLIVING THEIR MALE COUNTERPARTS. WITH THIS INFORMATION TO HAND, PALM LAKE CARE IS MAKING A DIFFERENCE.

MEN in CARE for support and learn to use or develop skills with different shed tools like lathes, saw-benches, drills and grinders”.

Palm Lake Care Bargara Lifestyle Team coordinator Kim Milowski says her male residents are encouraged to attend and participate in activities such as woodwork, dismantling old electronics and other arts and crafts.

“It gives them the chance to interact with other men in our local community,” explains Kim. “The gentlemen are offered morning tea and a friendly chat after their activity and, by all reports, they thoroughly enjoy their Men’s Shed visits.”

From a facilities perspective, Palm Lake Care is also ensuring the built environments in each location are conducive to male interaction. For example, some time ago it was identified that a handful of Palm Lake Care Bargara men were interested in playing pool, but that the billiards table was not ideally located in the building. It took some planning and logistics to get the heavy table shifted, but its new position in the main community area proved it an unexpectedly strong magnet for the men. Most afternoons you’ll find them together, sharing shots and laughs. Resident Antonio Fratangelo has proved himself a gun on the billiards table. It’s a game he played in his youth and a passion he has rediscovered since the table was moved. Edging 90 years young, Tony’s known to draw a crowd of fellow resident playerson a daily basis, all keen for a game. So much so that Tony’s wife, Beatrice (who also lives at Palm Lake Care Bargara), has given in to the fact that she must share her husband with his beloved pool table - such is his passion for the game!

Across our other locations, we have lawn bowls greens and residents can shoot basketball hoops and play cricket. ‘Sports bars’ are also appearing, where male residents can congregate on comfortable lounges and watch televised sporting competitions while enjoying a coldie together. For ‘big’ sporting events, staff even utilise the on-site movie cinemas to ensure they get everyone in!

Of course, the ladies are always welcome to join in these kinds of activities, too. But, when it comes to our unashamedly intentional policy to build strong, supportive and engaged male cohorts, it’s all just another way that Palm Lake Care is ensuring our approach to aged care is different.

www.palmlakecare.com.au

SPRING EDITION 2019

WHEN LEONA COUNSELL gets out the wooden spoons, it’s not a cooking class she’s leading. Nor (if you can recall your childhood) is anyone in big trouble! The spoons are, in fact, a key element of one of Leona’s favourite resident exercise activities - cardio drumming. As Lifestyle Team leader at Palm Lake Care Mt Warren Park, it is Leona’s job to keep the residents as busy and active as they choose to be. She is tasked with developing the monthly activities schedule and on it, cardio drumming is one of the more popular activities that she has introduced.

As Leona explains, she first heard of the idea of cardio drumming out of the United States - although she has given it a tweak to suit her community. Set to a fun music soundtrack, participants use their wooden spoons as drumsticks, belting out a ‘tune’ on large gym balls. Wooden spoons work well for her group as they can be held at either the handle end or the spoon end, depending on her participants’ grip strength.

“Hitting different parts of the ball engages different parts of their bodies. I get them to stand up, sit down and we also clap the spoons above our heads,” Leona explains. “It increases their heart rate and, in turn, they burn fat.”

With upbeat, modern music helping to also lift spirits, Leona says the activity is more fun than it is exercise.

“If I write ‘exercise class’ or ‘chair exercise’ on the activities schedule, I don’t get as many residents attending. But they love turning up to a ‘cardio drumming’ session!”

With class size limited to the number of gym balls they can fit into the activities room, there’s always a full contigent of 16 participants. When Leona’s got an overflow of interest, she’ll bring in some upturned buckets to drum on. And this vibrant ukelele-playing Lifestyle Team leader is also known to keep a pretty cool beat on her own set of bongos, that sometimes make an appearance in class!

“When the residents are having a good time and the exercise is not feeling like a chore, we find that they are more likely to sustain it,” Leona says. “That’s why cardio drumming is perfect - they are having fun while they are also exercising.”

DRUMMING UP SUPPORT

SPRING EDITION 2019

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PALM LAKE RESORT BARGARA Bargara is the most tropical destination in the Palm Lake Group. With its superb climate, range of activities, sporting and social events and a great choice of home designs, this is a place you’ll proudly call home. On your doorstep, there are 15 national parks and 140km of sandy coastline. Visit Mon Repos Turtle Rookery and the Great Barrier Reef. M 1800 501 119 / 39 Wearing Road, Bargara QLD 4670

PALM LAKE RESORT CALOUNDRA CAY Palm Lake Resort Caloundra Cay (pronounced “Caloundra Key”) spirits you away to the pristine beaches and lushness of the Caribbean with its architecturally designed coastal homes and spectacular interiors that make you feel a world away from the Sunshine Coast. This brand new address is distinctive and exclusive and the brand new Hemingway’s Country Club is the cherry on top. M

1800 556 677 / 96 Village Way, Little Mountain QLD 4551

PALM LAKE RESORT COOROY-NOOSA Palm Lake Resort Cooroy-Noosa homes are stylishly refined and inspired by the classic elegance known as ‘Noosa style.’ Among the eco-friendly, architectural designs are large two bedroom-plus-activity-room homes featuring extra long and wide RV garages, perfect for adventure-seeking residents. There’s also additional storage for those other ‘toys’ that make the next stage of life an adventure. M 1800 885 851 / 19 Trading Post Road, Cooroy QLD 4563

PALM LAKE RESORT TOOWOOMBA PINNACLE Toowoomba Pinnacle has been built alongside the company’s existing development ensuring Pinnacle residents are immediately immersed in a community of affable and likeminded neighbours. Toowoomba Pinnacle’s latest architectural and energy-efficient home designs offer exquisite open-plan living with raked ceilings to maximise natural light, space and comfort. A Master Builders Association award winner. An adjacent aged caring community will soon be a reality. M 1800 280 129 / 97-161 Hogg Street, Cranley QLD 4350

BARGARA AGED CARE 07 4331 0000 55 Wearing Road, Bargara, Queensland 4670

BETHANIA AGED CARE 07 3086 3000 3 Goodooga Drive, Bethania, Queensland 4205

DECEPTION BAY AGED CARE 07 3293 5800 Cnr Bay Avenue & Maine Terrace, Deception Bay, Queensland 4508

MT WARREN PARK AGED CARE 1800 246 677 33 Mt Warren Boulevard, Mt Warren Park, Queensland 4207

www.palmlakecare.com.au

Palm Lake Group PROPERTY PORTFOLIO

And there are more Palm Lake Resorts here...

Over 55s designer livingOver 50s lifestyle resort

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BALLINA R 1800 335 666 120 North Creek Road, Ballina NSW 2478BANORA POINT M 1800 641 665 67 Winders Pl, Banora Point NSW 2486BEACHMERE SANDS R 1800 338 382 218 Bishop Rd, Beachmere QLD 4510BETHANIA M

1800 757 457 43 Goodooga Dr, Bethania QLD 4205CARINDALE M

1800 770 057 2 Ford Ct, Carindale QLD 4152DECEPTION BAY M

1800 725 652 1 Webster Rd, Deception Bay QLD 4508EAGLEBY M

1800 781 101 / 272 Fryar Rd, Eagleby QLD 4207FERN BAY M

1800 648 868 1117 Nelson Bay Rd, Fern Bay NSW 2295FORSTER M

1800 756 740 223 The Lakes Way, Forster NSW 2428HERVEY BAY M

1800 455 307 / 25-67 Pialba-Burrum Heads Rd, Eli Waters QLD 4655MT WARREN PARK M

1800 282 314 1 Mt Warren Blvd, Mt Warren Park QLD 4207PHILLIP ISLAND M

1800 066 482 48-80 Settlement Rd, Cowes VIC 3922REDLAND BAY R 0455 504 158 57 Hamilton Street, Redland Bay QLD 4165TRUGANINA M

1800 686 096 / 7 Taronga Rd, Truganina VIC 3029TEA GARDENS R

1800 756 740 50 Spinifex Avenue, Tea Gardens NSW 2324TWEED RIVER M

1800 881 041 2 Barneys Point Rd, Banora Point NSW 2486UPPER COOMERA M

1800 757 457 Riverbrooke Dr, Upper Coomera QLD 4209WATERFORD M

1800 028 428 / 29-71 High Rd, Waterford QLD 4133WILLOW LODGE M

03 9706 5011 2 Willows Rd, Bangholme VIC 3175YAMBA M

1800 084 119 / 1 Orion Dr, Yamba NSW 2464

www.palmlakeresort.com.au

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TWEED RIVERBANORA POINT

PHILLIP ISLAND

BARGARA

CALOUNDRA CAY

HERVEY BAY

TEA GARDENS

YAMBA

FERN BAY

WILLOW LODGE

TRUGANINA

TOOWOOMBA

COOROY-NOOSA

BEACHMERE SANDS

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UPPER COOMERA

MT WARREN PARKEAGLEBYREDLAND BAY

DECEPTION BAY

WATERFORD

CARINDALE

BETHANIA

PALM LAKE RESORT

PALM LAKE CAREOUR LOCATIONS

PELICAN WATERS

FORSTER

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PALM LAKE RESORT BEACHMERE BAY Inspired by the stylish Hamptons Beachmere Bay was designed for casual, classic living with a coastal edge. Beautiful new home designs set the mood for refined yet relaxed living, with timeless Hamptons styling. The world-class Hamptons Country Club is the centrepiece of the community where social spaces are full of laughter and homes are retreats. A nine-hole golf course and adjacent aged caring community will add to the precinct. M

1800 338 382 / 194 Bishop Road, Beachmere QLD 4510

PALM LAKE CARE

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Master Builders Association Award Winning Resorts 2017 for Best Resort, Best Country Club and Best Home and 2018 Best Sporting and Leisure Facility

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Over 50s designer living

Freecall 13 72 56 | palmlakeresort.com.au

Information centres open 7 days.

The best in designer living. It’s time for you.

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Ballina | Bargara | Beachmere Bay | Caloundra Cay | Cooroy-Noosa | Forster | Tea Gardens | Toowoomba