New lifestyle means reconnecting with old friends Ruby is the traditional gift for a 40th wedding anniversary, but Clive and Inge Gentle are anything but traditional. The vibrant couple moved into a new home at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront within days of their milestone anniversary. “I bought Inge a house. And a pub lunch afterwards, because that’s all I could afford!” said Clive with trademark humour. “No, in truth, we were exhausted from moving in, so a pub lunch was easy.” Even though the couple left the workforce four years ago – Inge worked in retail while Clive worked for Energex – they say it is only now that they’ve truly retired. “We used to live in Taigum on Brisbane’s northside and had a beautiful place overlooking the creek,” said Inge. “Two years ago, we were flooded and had to rebuild our home. “After that, every time there was a rain event, I’d watch the creek come up and get very nervous. The last time that...

Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront is home to more than 100 ex-servicemen and women, so needless to say the turnout at Anzac commemorations is significant. “Our resort has many veterans and more than 280 people usually attend our services,” said Pat Quinlan, a former driver with the Australian navy. Pat, and two Vietnam veterans Bob Pfeiffer (army) and Don Grieve (air force), organise the huge event each year. “We do a dawn service and have a march from the front gate to the flagpole area outside of the Country Club,” she said. “It is about the fourth year we’ve been doing it now. Bob and Don arrange the ceremonial section of the Anzac Day commemoration and I put together the food for the day. We have a gunfire breakfast at the dawn service which usually consists of a sausage or bacon in a roll, or a bowl of mince, then afterwards we go off to individual services. “About noon we reconvene at the resort with a...

Last chance to secure Caboolture Riverfront home Only one brand-new home remains at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront and it can be yours today. The last remaining home is a premium three-bedroom Snowy design and is ready to move into straight away, said Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront Sales Manager Glenys Lowry who invited interested buyers to call in advance for a tour. “Our freestanding, three-bedroom designs have been very popular, and this home has two bedrooms at the front of the house separated by the main bathroom,” she said. “The master bedroom is at the rear of the home, with a separate ensuite and fabulous walk-in robe which means you have your own private retreat even when you have houseguests. “The master bedroom and main open plan living space open onto a large tiled alfresco area, which has uninterrupted riverbank views with no neighbour at the rear which is ideal for outdoor entertaining. “There are also beautiful, large established trees along the top of the riverbank...

Discover some old-fashioned Easter fun with the grandkids and introduce them to the majestic sport of dressage – all close by to Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront. Dressage competition From 8am Sunday, 17 March Queensland’s largest dressage club, the Caboolture Dressage Group is hosting a club and participation day, and it is free to come along as a spectator. To be held at the Queensland State Equestrian Centre’s outdoor arena complex, the event is open to both CDG members and EA riders. It will feature classes from preparatory to Grand Prix. Location: Queensland State Equestrian Centre, 155 Old Gympie Road, Caboolture For more information: bit.ly/4bFbFgE Family egg-citement From 8am Saturday, 23 March The Federal Member for Longman, Terry Young, will hold a free community event for children and families to celebrate the start of the Easter holidays. The Greatest Ever Easter Egg Hunt will involve an Easter egg hunt, free popcorn, sausage sizzle and coffee cart. This is a free community event, and all are welcome. Location: Apex Park (next...

Valentine’s Day is not the only significant event to happen in February. For millions around the world, the month also marks the Lunar New Year. The day is celebrated all around the world – particularly in China, South Korea and Vietnam. This year Caboolture is marking the year of the dragon on Saturday, 17 February. Make a note in your diary and plan a date night with a difference. Taking place between 3pm and 8pm at the Caboolture Town Square on Hasking Street, the Moreton Bay Lunar New Year will feature plenty of Asian street food as well as lots of entertainment, including the Red Dragon Traditional Lion Dance, soulful Chinese orchestra performances, a magic show, a drumming spectacular and more. The evening will be capped off with an impressive pyrotechnic firecracker display. Are you a dragon? Unlike the zodiac calendar, which assigns birth signs based on month, the Chinese horoscope divides its signs by year. 2024 is the year of the dragon, so if you...

Office romance blossoms for Luke and Karen For Karen Plath it was the sound of her future husband’s voice that first brought him to her attention. Luke and Karen, who live at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront, celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last year. “I’d not long started a new job in the insurance company that Luke worked in,” said Karen. “In fact, he was in the cubicle next to mine and occasionally he would sing. Luke sings really well. “One day I told him that he had a lovely voice. We started chatting and then the next thing you know we were on our first date – a cruise on the Brisbane River by riverboat.” And it wasn’t too long before Luke, who has one daughter, and Karen who has three sons, had become inseparable. “He is such a kind and caring man, very chivalrous,” said Karen. “He’ll always open the car door for me.” Luke proposed following a romantic meal at Birches at Mount Mee, a...

A lifestyle that ticks all the boxes When Lynda and John Klavins came up from Sydney for their regular visit to family and friends in Queensland this year, little did they suspect that they’d be returning with a new home. The couple, who lived for 31 years in Lane Cove, now call Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront home, thanks to their son-in-law. “Our family live in Caboolture and we have friends who live in another over-50s community in Cooroy,” said Lynda. “We could see how much they were enjoying the lifestyle and I said to John that it would be nice if we could find somewhere like that for ourselves.” As it happened, the Klavins' son-in-law was a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and a regular visitor to Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront. He made an appointment with sales manager Glenys Lowry. For Lynda, it was love at first sight. “Living Gems ticked all the boxes,” she said. “Glenys showed us the home that we ended up buying and...

There's never an excuse to be bored on the school holidays - not with nana and grandad to the rescue! Moreton Regional Council hosts plenty of activities around Caboolture in January - check out their website here for the full listing - bit.ly/3GfZ0m2 We've picked some ideas to get the grandkids excited. The activities take place at either the Caboolture Library or at the Caboolture Regional Art Gallery, both at 4 Hasking Street, Caboolture. Fun factory Hosted by Caboolture Library staff, there will be games, craft, reading and more for kids of all ages at the fun factory. Drop in on 13 January between 10am and 1pm. No bookings are required, and the activities are free. For more information: moretonbay.qld.gov.au/libraries/Events/Fun-Factory/Caboolture-1 Marvellous metalwork Older grandkids aged between 12 and 17 years will enjoy making their own keyring or jewellery piece at this metalwork class at the Caboolture Library on 14 January between noon and 2pm. This event is free, but bookings must be made for the participating child. For...

Moving day is always exciting – especially when it is into a lovely brand-new home at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront. For Kerry and Ruth Dean, who moved into the active over-50s lifestyle resort in late October, the first week was spent putting together the homely touches that makes their place just right. “We got the keys last Wednesday,” said Ruth. “We timed it because Kerry is a FIFO worker and arranged to be home this week for the move. He’ll be flying out next Wednesday, so today we’ve spent a lot of time at Bunnings shopping for things like pots for the back garden.” A new three-bedroom home is not the only major milestone the Deans will enjoy this year. “We’ll be celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary in December,” said Ruth. “Kerry and I met in high school – he was two years ahead of me, but we moved in the same social circles and were friends for many years.” After growing up in the Northern...

It’s the end of the year – the perfect time to think about adventures for 2024! Experienced travel agent Norman Pressey from Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront shares great tips and special offers available to all Living Gems homeowners. “We’ve had a great response to the group holidays featured in Thrive magazine this year,” he said. In response to demand, Norman has created a website - integritytravel.com.au - for those who want to check out a curated list of holidays, many of which he and his wife Carol will join as guides. “I also appreciate that people may not want to commit to a holiday in advance or may wish to choose their own adventure, so I’ve also included some helpful tools that will make booking that dream holiday much easier,” he said. Important insurance Did you know that 11 countries have reciprocal health care agreements for Australian Medicare card holders? While that can give you a little peace of mind, it is no substitute for...

If you are looking for nuts and bolts at Christmas, Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront homeowner Gail Hartigan has jars filled with them. Of course, it's Christmas and we are not talking about the metal variety of nuts and bolts but the more delicious crunchy, tasty, sweet and savoury snack that is great to nibble on all day long. Gail has already started to make the popular treat for the festive season using a traditional family recipe handed down to her by her mother. "I've had it for over 40 years and can remember mum making it when we were kids. It's a little different to the normal recipes making it something you just can't buy," said the enthusiastic home cook, who has built up quite an impressive following from residents who like to buy her jars of Nuts and Bolts to give away at Christmas. "They make delicious nibblies that can be enjoyed throughout the festive season or on Christmas Day itself." Gail and her...