Premium lifestyle offering

The Central Coast’s first luxury vertical retirement village has officially opened today with The Rise at Wood Glen addressing a shortage of premium lifestyle offerings within the region.

The first stage of the $46 million RetireAustralia apartment project features a collection of 24 contemporary residences unlike anything seen before on the Coast, with high quality finishes and expansive balconies opening up to sweeping valley views.

The Rise’s first residents have already started moving into their new homes, with  construction on the project’s next stage expected to start later this year due to the strong interest.

Member for Terrigal and Parlimentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, joined RetireAustralia representatives at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of The Rise, which is located in the popular Wood Glen Retirement Village at Erina.

World-class design

RetireAustralia Chief Executive Officer Dr Brett Robinson said The Rise answered a growing demand for high quality retirement living options in the region by offering world-class designs and access to a wide array of exclusive resident amenities in a prime location close to everything the Coast had to offer.

“The Rise is the first luxury vertical retirement village on the Central Coast and we have been thrilled to see our vision swiftly springing to life over the past 18 months of its construction,’’ said Dr Robinson.

“The Rise caters for a fundamental shift in the way modern downsizers are now viewing retirement and we believe the development will herald a new standard for the industry across the region.

“Our philosophy has been to been to create a lifestyle without compromise for residents at The Rise, along with tailored home care services to help them maintain their independence.

“We’ve already welcomed our first residents and we are looking forward to many more moving in during the weeks ahead.’’

Low-maintenance lifestyle

Every apartment within The Rise has been designed for a low-maintenance lifestyle and optimised for ease of living and mobility. They showcase contemporary lines, floor-to-ceiling glass, the perfect north-east aspect, a generous kitchen, European appliances, and ample storage.

The Rise is situated just over an hour’s drive from Sydney, making it a highly appealing option for retirees who want to enjoy a premier lifestyle in a coastal location while still being close to an international city.

Exclusive community facilities

Residents will enjoy access to Wood Glen’s wide range of exclusive community facilities, including a resort-style lodge and bar, auditorium, hairdressing salon, library, pool, spa, gymnasium, outdoor entertainment areas and bowls green.

Nestled at the base of Kincumba Mountain Reserve and surrounded by bushland, Wood Glen is across the road from Erina Fair Shopping Centre and close to the best attractions the region has to offer, including beautiful beaches, cafes, shops and entertainment.

Designed by leading seniors living architects Marchese Partners, the two and three-bedroom apartments in The Rise are priced from $599,000.

The Rise is RetireAustralia’s second major new investment in the Central Coast, following the opening of Glengara Care at Tumbu Umbi in 2019 as a genuine alternative to traditional aged care, giving residents unprecedented choice and independence.

If you would like to find out more about The Rise ,call our friendly team on 1800 955 070 or contact us online.

Our built environment is currently the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, consuming around a third of our water, and generating 40 percent of our waste. A more relatable fact if you’ve noticed your power and water bills endlessly rising each quarter.

Making lasting environmental change

Turning the lights off helps ease power bill pressure, but by simply looking for a Green Star you can make a lasting and significant change to both the environment and your wallet. Launched in 2003, Green Star is Australia’s largest sustainability rating system for communities and buildings, aiming to reduce the impact of climate change by creating smart, resilient buildings.

The Verge at Burleigh G.C, a coastal retirement medium-rise, is one such community making the investment to attain this rating. Using passive design principles like external shading and smart insulation, glazing selection, LED lighting, electric vehicle charging stations and efficient air-conditioning, The Verge has managed to achieve higher energy efficiency ratings than that of a standard compliant building. During development ‘Green Concrete, recycled water and timber from sustainable forests were used to reach the Green Star rating and further reduce the retirement communities’ carbon footprint and waste production during the build.

The benefits of a Green Star rating

While great for the environment, the benefits of buying Green Star extend far beyond the planet and have a direct positive impact on home owners too:

1. Cost savings – green buildings are designed to be energy and water efficient, making them cheaper to run day-to-day
2. Healthier living space – they provide better indoor environments that reduce rates of respiratory disease, allergy, and asthma. Studies have confirmed that sick people get well faster in green buildings, and healthy people get sick less often
3. Reduces individual carbon footprint – by investing in environmentally friendly projects where possible, we can all play a role in defining the next generation of green sustainability

Best practice in sustainable design

The Verge has been awarded a 4 Star Green Star – Design & As Built v1.2 Design Review Certified Rating, which represents Best Practice in sustainable design. This has been awarded by The Green Building Council of Australia. This is a milestone for RetireAustralia and represents the first Green Star Rating accredited to a RetireAustralia development.

As the Verge at Burleigh Golf Club nears completion, this certification confirms our commitment to certify the completed building in the coming months and confirms our Green Star promise to achieve As-Built certification.

If you are considering the move to retirement, make sure to look for the Green Star accreditation. It’s a healthier, more sustainable way to save money and reduce the impact we all have on the environment.

The Central Coast’s first luxury vertical retirement village has officially opened today with The Rise at Wood Glen addressing a shortage of premium lifestyle offerings within the region.

The first stage of the $46 million RetireAustralia apartment project features a collection of 24 contemporary residences unlike anything seen before on the Coast, with high quality finishes and expansive balconies opening up to sweeping valley views.

The Rise’s first residents have already started moving into their new homes, with  construction on the project’s next stage expected to start later this year due to the strong interest.

Member for Terrigal and Parlimentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, joined RetireAustralia representatives at a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tour of The Rise, which is located in the popular Wood Glen Retirement Village at Erina.

RetireAustralia Chief Executive Officer Dr Brett Robinson said The Rise answered a growing demand for high quality retirement living options in the region by offering world-class designs and access to a wide array of exclusive resident amenities in a prime location close to everything the Coast had to offer.

“The Rise is the first luxury vertical retirement village on the Central Coast and we have been thrilled to see our vision swiftly springing to life over the past 18 months of its construction,’’ said Dr Robinson.

“The Rise caters for a fundamental shift in the way modern downsizers are now viewing retirement and we believe the development will herald a new standard for the industry across the region.

“Our philosophy has been to been to create a lifestyle without compromise for residents at The Rise, along with tailored home care services to help them maintain their independence.

“We’ve already welcomed our first residents and we are looking forward to many more moving in during the weeks ahead.’’

Every apartment within The Rise has been designed for a low-maintenance lifestyle and optimised for ease of living and mobility. They showcase contemporary lines, floor-to-ceiling glass, the perfect north-east aspect, a generous kitchen, European appliances, and ample storage.

The Rise is situated just over an hour’s drive from Sydney, making it a highly appealing option for retirees who want to enjoy a premier lifestyle in a coastal location while still being close to an international city.

Residents will enjoy access to Wood Glen’s wide range of exclusive community facilities, including a resort-style lodge and bar, auditorium, hairdressing salon, library, pool, spa, gymnasium, outdoor entertainment areas and bowls green.

Nestled at the base of Kincumba Mountain Reserve and surrounded by bushland, Wood Glen is across the road from Erina Fair Shopping Centre and close to the best attractions the region has to offer, including beautiful beaches, cafes, shops and entertainment.

Designed by leading seniors living architects Marchese Partners, the two and three-bedroom apartments in The Rise are priced from $599,000.

The Rise is RetireAustralia’s second major new investment in the Central Coast, following the opening of Glengara Care at Tumbu Umbi in 2019 as a genuine alternative to traditional aged care, giving residents unprecedented choice and independence.

ENDS

This fact is what makes the job of Glengara Aged Care Apartments’ new Diversional Therapist Lauren Winstanley so important and so profoundly rewarding.

Lauren tailors a wide range of interesting and fulfilling activities for each of our residents.

“Put simply it’s about helping people to continue enjoying life,” she said.

“Above all it’s about having fun – it’s such a simple but incredibly powerful notion, with the potential to make such a difference in people’s lives.’’

The role of diversional therapy

At Glengara Care, we recognise how vital a busy social calendar is to the lives of our residents.

We also know that everybody’s different – with varied interests and personalities.

That’s why we have tailored activities, to help each of our residents find the things that bring them the most joy.

We help them to connect with others, remain active and feel truly valued in their community.

Diversional therapist Lauren brings wide experience and qualifications to her role, which requires creativity as well as compassion and the ability to connect with other people.

With Level 4 certification in Aged Care as well as Home and Community Care, she has been working in the aged care sector since 2013. She has also completed a range of studies in dementia.

From regular bus outings to explore the Central Coast’s abundance of attractions to relaxing lunches in some of the region’s most beautiful locations, the Glengara Care social calendar is a highlight of living in a village renowned for its welcoming, friendly atmosphere.

Diversional therapy is also about keeping bodies active as well as minds, with light exercise and stretching classes to complement crafts and hobby sessions, movie afternoons, trivia quizzes, games, and much more.

“Glengara Care is not like traditional aged care. It’s more a like a family environment and there’s also a great team culture here,” said Lauren.

“The staff truly care about our residents and want to improve their quality of life.

“My role involves getting to know each of our residents and planning activities for them to participate in.

“It’s vitally important to understand all of their personalities and interests, which means taking the time to speak to them individually about what they want.’’

Lauren said she relished opportunities to be innovative with the calendar.

“I love that I’m able to use my creativity in this role,’’ she said. “One of the great things about my job is getting to establish a rapport with other people and helping them rediscover abilities they thought were lost to them.

“There have been many cases where people at various stages of conditions, including dementia, have thought they were no longer capable of hobbies that once gave them a lot of pleasure.

“When they realise they are still able to do those things, that those skills haven’t been erased, then that’s the best part of my job.’’

A genuine alternative to traditional aged care

Glengara Care’s commitment to enhancing its residents’ sense of wellbeing exemplifies its whole approach to aged care.

Located within the Glengara Retirement Village at Tumbi Umbi on the NSW Central Coast, it offers a positive alternative to aged care, providing the private support people need to continue living a meaningful life their own way in beautiful surrounds.

The new Glengara Care apartments offer the privacy of a separate bedroom, lounge, dining area, bathroom, outdoor space and kitchenette complemented by a nursing home level of care.

Your partner can move into your apartment with you and you can even bring your pet.

Nutritious meals are prepared each day by our professional chef, and with a personalised care plan for each resident, support will always be available to you no matter how your needs change.

To find out more, call our helpful staff on 1800 955 070 or enquire here.

The mother-daughter duo are firm friends and neighbours, having lived in the vibrant Central Coast retirement village for 17 years and two years respectively. They both love the community, but for different reasons

Margaret has a special place in the village’s history, being the longest-standing resident and the third resident to move into the community when it opened in 2004.

“I had looked at a few other villages but hadn’t found what I was looking for. My friend and I were driving past Forresters Beach and she suggested I take a look. It hadn’t even finished construction so I didn’t think it was possible. But we came and had a look around and I put down a deposit straight away,” says Margaret.

“I’ve retired completely. I love that everything gets done for you. If I have a problem with maintenance or the garden, I just call Dave [Forresters Beach’s Maintenance Manager] and he comes to fix it.

“Managing and maintaining your own home can be stressful and take a lot of time, but it’s not like that here. It’s much more relaxed.”

As for her favourite parts of village life, Margaret particularly enjoys the café, which is a buzzing social hub. She has lunch there most days over chats with a rotating roster of friendly neighbours, and says the community “would be lost without Chrissy”, the café’s dedicated barista and chef.

Bingo is also a weekly highlight, and Margaret says “there’s always something to do and someone to chat to.”

When her mum first moved in, Denise immediately turned her thoughts to her own future. “I said to myself, ‘when I retire, I’d love to live here. The villas are spacious, there’s privacy and all the gardening is done for you.’”

Fast forward 13 years, and Denise “was retired and an empty nester,” she explains. “But then the kids came home. They had a block of land and were waiting for their house to be built!”

As soon as her children’s home was finished, Denise was ready to make a move of her own, and settled into a Forresters Beach villa in late 2018, just a year after she retired.

Denise looks after her 4-year old grandson two days a week and, when she’s at home in the village, can be found in the gym, doing aqua aerobics in the pool, or at weekly meditation.

“The community is very welcoming and friendly. You can go up to anyone in the café and have a chat,” says Denise.

“Actually, the café is up there as well in terms of what I like best!”, she laughs. “I come down to see Mum after she finishes bingo, and she comes for a coffee with me after meditation. And we have lunch a couple of times a week.”

“I tried meditation at the beginning,” says Margaret. “But it starts at 8.30am on a Friday so it’s just a bit too early!”

The stylish duo share one more common interest. “The ladies are both regulars of our village hairdresser, Wendy,” explains Julie Ramage, Village Manager. “Denise has the most popular hairstyle among the village and Wendy often gets requests for something similar.”

As for those considering a move into retirement living, we’ll leave the last word up to Margaret. “The best thing I ever did was move into Forresters Beach. I just love it and can’t imagine living anywhere else.”

Clutching a bouquet of flowers almost bigger than herself, Erina resident Marion Laycock Robey has celebrated her 100th birthday with a “ton’’ of memories about life on the NSW Central Coast.

The former Sydneysider, whose earliest recollections also include watching the Harbour Bridge being built from her bedroom window in the 1920s, marked her milestone with her closest friends and family at RetireAustralia’s Wood Glen Retirement Village this month.

Although she grew up in Sydney’s harbourside suburb of Bellevue Hill, Marion has always had a strong connection with the Coast.

Proudly showing off a sepia-toned photograph of her and her older sister on the beach at nearby Terrigal in 1923, she recalled long, fun-filled holidays with her family each year at a perfectly positioned house in Painters Lane.

“We Ioved every moment of it,’’ said Marion. “We spent six weeks of every summer here.

“The trip from Sydney would take eight hours, including a wait to cross the Hawkesbury River on a punt.’’

Although Terrigal looked vastly different in those days, the family’s accommodation was in the heart of the region and literally only minutes to the water.

These days, Marion is a well-known and popular resident of Wood Glen, having moved to the village from Wamberal almost 20 years ago with her husband Lance.

Although Lance has since passed away, Marion – who has three children, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren – still feels very much at home at Wood Glen, located in beautiful surroundings close to all of life’s everyday essentials.

“The people and staff really make it feel like home,’’ said Marion, who enjoys socialising with others at the village, playing Bridge and gardening.

“For me, one of life’s true joys – which hasn’t changed throughout the years – is being amongst great friends and neighbours, as well as family.’’

Wood Glen Village Manager Vanessa Fordyce said Marion’s 100th birthday was a special moment for the residents, who were all part of a close, supportive community.

“We’re renowned for our friendly atmosphere and everyone is made to feel part of the ‘Wood Glen family’. Marion’s birthday is another great milestone for our community,’’ she said.

Ms Fordyce said one of the advantages of living at Wood Glen was that homes were designed to adapt to residents’ changing needs, giving them peace of mind for the future.

The latest addition to Wood Glen, a vertical retirement development known as The Rise, exemplifies this philosophy by allowing residents to remain independent, knowing they can take advantage of RetireAustralia Home Care services if needed at a later stage.

The recently opened first stage of The Rise offers a collection of 24 architecturally-designed deluxe apartments featuring spectacular views and a wide array of resort-style private amenities.

Wood Glen is across the road from Erina Fair shopping centre and close to local beaches, nature reserves, medical and other services and a wide range of shops, dining and entertainment options.

Its range of exclusive community facilities include a resort-style lodge, hairdressing salon, library, pool, spa, gymnasium, and bowls green, with two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000.

To find out more about The Rise at Wood Glen or to speak to one of our friendly sales team members, visit www.therise.com.au or call 1800 955 070.

This Christmas, the Tea Tree Gardens reception desk is adorned with a gorgeous knitted nativity set, hand-made by a crafty resident in the community.

But the heart of this story goes back 14 years, and is threaded with kindness and history.

It all began at the Tea Tree Gardens’ Christmas Dinner Dance in 2006. A couple in the village won a knitted nativity set in the raffle (top photo), and have wondered for years which talented knitter was responsible. They love it so much, they’ve always wanted to thank the clever crafter in person.

When Village Manager Lucy spotted this on their fireplace last year, she set out to solve the mystery. With some selective detective work, she discovered that the nativity set was knitted by Elva, the village’s longest-reigning resident. While Elva recently moved into a nursing home (age 102!), a younger and equally crafty resident, Gloria, resolved to continue the tradition.

She presented Lucy and the village team with a gorgeous replica (bottom photo), which now has pride of place in the office. Thank you Elva and Gloria, your crafty creations have a special place in our hearts!

Craig’s favourite recipe for the festive season is a traditional French poached pear frangipane tart. The delicate flavours of pears, an almond filling and buttery pastry complement each other to create an irresistible sweet treat. There are three parts to this recipe – poached pears, sweet pastry, and a fragrant frangipane filling. Craig recommends starting with the poached pears, ideally making these a few days in advance.

Poached pear frangipane tart

Serve with soft peak whipped cream and seasonal berries.

Poached pears:

Ingredients

• 600ml water
• 1 nip of vanilla essence
• 2 anise pods
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 150ml red wine
• 150ml port wine
• 2 pears, peeled and cored

Method

1. Mix all ingredients together, except pears.
2. Poach whole pears in this liquid until soft.
3. Place pears and syrup in the fridge to cool.
4. Keep pears for a couple of days in the syrup, then drain and slice for tart.
5. Discard the syrup after use, or keep to poach other fruits.

Sweet pastry:

Ingredients

• 340g plain flour
• 120g icing sugar
• 200g softened butter
• 2 egg yolks

Method

1. Preheat oven to 190 degrees.
2. Use a food processor to mix the flour, icing sugar and butter together. Once these ingredients resemble breadcrumbs, add egg yolks and stop processing as soon as the mix has come together with the yolks.
3. Wrap pastry in glad wrap to rest, and place in fridge for 30 minutes.
4. Roll out into a greased 30cm tart tin. Rest for an additional 30 minutes in fridge.
5. Blind bake* for 20 minutes at 190 degrees.
6. Remove non-stick baking paper and bake a further 10 min at 190 degrees or until golden brown.

* If you’re new to baking, blind baking simply means partially cooking a pastry crust without a filling, to ensure it’s golden brown and not at all soggy. Generally, it’s best to weigh the pastry down in the centre so it doesn’t puff up. Line the pastry with non-stick baking paper and then add some weight such as uncooked rice, dry beans, or sugar. Make sure these are evenly distributed, right up to the edges.

Frangipane mix:

Ingredients

• 480g butter
• 600g castor sugar
• 800g ground almonds
• 8 eggs
• 6 tablespoons of brandy

Method
1. While you’re blind baking the pastry, blend all ingredients for the frangipane mix together.

Putting it all together
1. It’s best to poach the pears a few days early so they can absorb the flavours of the syrup.
2. Once you’ve blind baked the pastry, place frangipane mix in the cooked tart case.
3. Place sliced poached pears on top of frangipane mix.
4. Bake at 180 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes until golden brown.
5. Cool and serve with soft peak cream and seasonal berries.

Bringing fresh flavours and a holiday atmosphere to Glengara Care

As Glengara Care’s Head Chef, Craig loves nothing more than seeing residents enjoy his culinary creations. “Making residents happy is the best part of the job,” he says. “I see them every day and follow up on every single meal.”

Craig’s passion for fresh produce, seasonal flavours and a resident-led menu sets Glengara Care apart. As well as cooking five fresh meals a day, Craig meets with residents every month to find out what they want to see on the menu. He also sources fresh produce from the retirement village’s community garden and schedules regular themed events.

“Our residents asked for a roast on a Sunday, fish and chips on a Friday, and regular barbecues,” said Craig. “Now we have a barbecue every second Friday evening, starting with happy hour at 3.30pm. I cook different types of meat, from king prawns to satay chicken tenderloins to beef sausages with rosemary.

“We have ice buckets and chilled glasses, so the barbecue evening feels like you’re at a resort. It’s a real outdoor experience for our residents and it feels like you’re on holiday – even for me.

“Residents requested that we go for quality over quantity when it comes to prawns, so I’ve changed the type of prawns I buy. I make the side dishes with fresh home-grown produce from the garden, such as wholesome potato salad with green beans or a vine-ripened tomato salad with basil.

“I love working out of a brand new kitchen with the latest technology and a $50,000 oven. That means we can slow cook meat over 24 hours and retain its quality, resulting in a great experience for the residents.”

Craig’s experience and pride in his work shine through and he ensures his food is as fresh as possible. “I put the chips down five minutes before service so they’re nice and crispy. After all, hot chips make a complete meal!”

Glengara Care is a genuine alternative to aged care on the Central Coast and, with Craig at the helm of the commercial kitchen, it’s helping to flip traditional expectations of aged care cuisine on their head!

Sample menu at Glengara Care

Breakfast: Daily breakfast pack with cereal, fresh fruit, refreshments and a side of toast delivered to your room.
Hot breakfast served once a month.
Morning tea: Home-made scones with fresh cream and jam.
Lunch: Parmesan and fresh herb-encrusted snapper with potato wedges and side salad of semi-dried tomatoes and soft feta cheese.
Afternoon tea: Baked citrus tarts with strawberry salad.
Dinner: Braised lamb shanks in a tomato and root vegetable sauce, served on a bed of parsley mash potato.

After spending their childhood together, Del and Evon went their separate ways in adult life. They both married, moved away from home and raised their families, as well as worked and travelled extensively. When Evon’s husband tragically passed away after a brief and sudden illness, she stunned her family by deciding to move interstate – to be near her sister Del, who had previously lost her husband and lived in a retirement community in Queensland.

While Del and Evon have lived, loved and lost, they are both thriving in this new chapter of their lives. As Evon says, “it’s wonderful that we’ve ended up together. It’s exactly how it was meant to be I think.”

Live your next chapter in one of our communities.

The toy group at Carlyle Gardens has been hard at work, lovingly crafting an array of handmade toys for children in the broader community. Residents have been using their woodworking skills to create miniature tractors, cots and lawnmowers, to name a few.

They were thrilled to receive a donation of $500 from Rotary Club of Bundaberg City Daybreak yesterday, to help the group continue its good work. Rotary will distribute the toys to those in need this Christmas, bringing a little joy and festive cheer to the community.

Before Rotary arrived, the residents’ workshop looked a little like Santa’s, overflowing with gifts, woodworking tools, and dedicated toy-makers putting the finishing touches on their handiwork.

Village Manager Belinda Hensler was on hand to receive the cheque from City Daybreak President, David Facer. We’re very grateful for the kind donation, and to the team of residents who’ve been working hard on hand-crafting these gorgeous toys.