The festive season is well and truly underway, and RetireAustralia residents and staff have been enjoying the fantastic community spirit in our villages at a number of seasonal events and get-togethers.
New South Wales
At Boambee Gardens in Coffs Harbour, residents dined and danced the night away at their 8th December Christmas party, and village manager Lexi Connor’s singing went down a storm.
Boambee Gardens
Glengara on the Central Coast has an annual tradition of residents decking out their villas with stunning, eye-catching Christmas decorations and lights and this year was no different.
Dorothy, Glengara
In neighbouring Wood Glen, residents enjoyed a Christmas high tea in late-November, a Christmas dinner on 6th December, as well as decorating The Lodge country club and collecting canned foods for crisis accommodation charity, Coast Shelter.
Forresters Beach
At nearby Forresters Beach, residents were busy as early as mid-November erecting a huge Christmas tree in the village’s Lake House.
Forresters Beach
At Riverina Gums in Wagga Wagga, the annual party was well-attended, while in Armidale, residents and staff of Newling Gardens celebrated the season with a large gathering, and many villas were adorned with dazzling decorations.
Queensland
In Bargara, Carlyle Gardens held a successful Christmas market and open day in November including a large range of stalls, food and festive cheer in spades. The community centre was lavishly decorated, gingerbread-making and Christmas Carols were enjoyed by all, and residents have been collecting toys and food items for the not-for-profit Angels Community Group.
Carlyle Gardens
In Toowoomba at Drayton Villas, residents enjoyed a festive dinner on 5th December, including a guest appearance by Santa, and a friends and family morning tea on 10th December.
At Wellington Manor on Brisbane’s bayside, students from Sheldon College in Sheldon entertained residents and staff with a well-received, full-band carol performance.
Wellington Manor
At Noyea Riverside, residents enjoyed a Christmas lights bus tour, as well as holding a Christmas decorating competition of their own. A Christmas dinner, a raffle, and Christmas happy hour were well-attended, while residents raised money to be donated to the Salvation Army to help needy children.
South Australia
Residents of Lincoln Grove in Port Lincoln enjoyed a drinks get-together on the 14th and the village took pride in erecting its tree in the community centre, while a large dinner event is planned for the 18th.
Lincoln Grove
In Adelaide, Tea Tree Gardens’ residents and staff have been enjoying an action-packed festive season. A Christmas lights bus tour, a festive pub dinner, and two dinner dances including a three-course meal, live entertainment and raffle prizes are the highlights.
Tea Tree Gardens
Glengowrie has been enjoying a similarly jam-packed festive calendar, with a choral performance, regular Christmas movie sessions, a 120-person dinner including a visit from Santa and his elves, a Christmas craft afternoon, and a Christmas afternoon tea with prize draw rounding out a busy month.
At Wisteria Grove, residents enjoyed a Christmas lunch and raffle on 11th December and have been collecting food to be donated to St. Vincent de Paul, while at neighbouring Spring Grove, a Christmas lunch on 12th December was followed by drinks with staff.
Wisteria Grove
Students from Thomas More College paid Harwin Retirement Village in Salisbury a visit to assist with putting up Christmas decorations and enjoyed a morning tea while they were there.
Harwin
Meanwhile, charitable residents at Torrens Grove have been collecting food, toiletries and cash donations for the Hutt Street Centre for the homeless – an annual tradition at the Kilkenny village. Residents enjoyed a Christmas dinner on 14th December and Christmas carols were performed by the village choir around the village, with sporadic street get-togethers at scheduled stops.
Spring Grove
Merry Christmas and happy 2019 from everyone at RetireAustralia!
