Group dynamics spark fitness funAmber by Living Gems’ local resident and hole-in-one golf champion Marjie Graham, enjoys her bi-weekly chance to get physical with a group of vibrant residents who love staying fit.Marjie couldn’t be prouder of the exercise group she has established at this over-50s lifestyle resort, but she is quick to correct us with a proper name for the group.“It’s not actually an aerobics class. We call it an over-50s fitness class because we cover so much more than just aerobics,” Marjie tells us.“We run classes every Monday and Wednesday at 9am for an hour and everyone is welcome, men too.”Currently, the class consists of up to 20 participants, but the group is very excited about the new Country Club coming soon and cannot wait until they have more room to work out in, as they are currently using the temporary clubhouse on site.“We have a small temporary clubhouse to use while the proper Country Club is being...

At 89, Amber by Living Gems resident Neil Graham puts even the youngest of us to shame with his physical fitness.Unstoppable, he has been cycling since he was a young boy and is even a bit of a celebrity at this over-50s lifestyle resort, with a recent write-up in the local paper.“Something just seemed to click when I got on my first bike, which was actually my dad’s bike, at the age of 8,” Neil tells us.“I think it was the feeling of freedom I experienced, together with the euphoria and the wind on my face as I started racing around.”Although Neil has been cycling and competing for years, he didn’t do his first long-distance ride until the age of 49, when he and his friend flew to Adelaide and cycled back to Melbourne together. It was then that Neil caught the competitive bug and started entering long-distance races.“My first win was as a 15-year-old amateur, when I won an...

Every Thursday morning, the Amber by Living Gems craft group gathers at the gazebo outside the sales office to enjoy a cuppa and a bikkie in the fresh country air as members work on their individual projects side by side.“Members work on a variety of crafts; whatever tickles their fancy, whether it’s knitting, crocheting, quilting and so on,” said Amber resident Ann Harber who founded the group after moving into her new home two years ago.“A couple of months after I moved into the resort, I decided to start a craft group and kept it open for anyone who wanted to join. There weren’t many of us back then, and as the resort grew, so did our group,” Ann revealed.“With autumn starting, we expect more people to join us to enjoy the cooler weather.”Amber Sales Manager Tameeka Manson said the weekly meet-up was a great way for group members to socialise with one another while fueling their creativity.“It’s fabulous to...

Downsizing on a larger scale Downsizing from a large property to an over-50s lifestyle resort can be a daunting task, but if armed with the right tools, knowledge and a plan of attack, your move will be successful and a positive experience.Tina and Dean Austin from Amber at Living Gems recently returned from a holiday in Vietnam where they spent a lot of time reflecting on their decision to sell their large family home and move into an over-50s lifestyle community.“Dean and I had met while serving in the Defence Force where we saw operational service in war zones,” Tina tells us. “After much thought and deliberation, we decided to look into making the move from our much-loved home to a new lifestyle.”Retirement and travel were high on their list as well as security and being able to leave their home for extended periods, so they shopped around and weighed up the options before making their final decision.They chose a lifestyle...

The jewel in the crown of Amber by Living Gems is a stunning two-storey Country Club which is currently under construction.Designed to be the social hub of the resort as well as to complement the relaxed, country atmosphere of historic Logan Village, the Country Club will capture refreshing river breezes and create meeting spots for residents to socialise and relax.During January, progress was made on the ground level structure with the swimming pool shell in place and the blockwork for the lower level close to completion at month’s end.Formwork for the upper-level suspended slab also started in January with the concrete pour expected to occur in four stages during February and into March.“There is such a lovely community growing here at Amber by Living Gems,” said Sales Manager, Tameeka Manson. “Homeowners have enjoyed seeing the almost daily progress on the Country Club and can’t wait to make it their own.”When complete, the Country Club will include a grand ballroom, theatre...

Get ready for tool time at Amber by Living Gems with the much-anticipated residents’ workshop set to offically open this month.Amber by Living Gems’ Sales Manager, Tameeka Manson, said that residents are amped up to start building their creations with the extensive collection of woodworking and metalworking tools that will be available at the brand-new workshop.“There has been lots of excitement at the resort with men and women who can’t wait to get their hands on the equipment, which will allow them to create anything from furniture, tables, benches and steps to boxes and picture frames,” said Tameeka.“We received an extremely generous donation of operating tools and equipment which we are very grateful for.”Amber by Living Gems’ homeowners are in the process of setting up a workshop committee and nominating a resident to be their chosen representative to oversee the workshop and its safety.Living Gems resident, Paul Bell, is keen for the workshop to be up and running so he...

Stage Two at Amber by Living Gems has been released ahead of schedule with sites almost sold out in Stage One.Residential construction is set to begin this month, with 92 home sites available including a limited number of special RV-friendly homes.Starting at only $569,000, six three-bedroom home designs will be available in Stage Two, each with between 194.4 sqm to 210.07 sqm of living space, two bathrooms, stunning modern kitchens with walk-in pantries, and lovely alfresco areas.Amber by Living Gems Sales Manager, Tameeka Manson, said there had been a big uptick in interest in the over-50s resort, with buyers impressed by the quality build of the display homes, the facilities on offer - including the future country club - and the peaceful semi-rural location.“The six available designs are our most popular and feature all the wonderful standard inclusions that Living Gems’ homes are known for such as ducted air-conditioning, quality kitchen appliances, top-notch finishes and fixtures, and so much more,”...

Right-sized living adds up for CherylRetired accountant Cheryl Chalk penned a list of requirements when she was looking for her new home and found everything she needed at Amber by Living Gems.As a retired accountant, Cheryl knew the numbers had to add up when she was looking to right-size her home.“When I was looking to relocate, I spent a lot of time searching,” she said.“In fact, I visited lots of different places with my brother and sister and we ended up inspecting Amber by Living Gems.“Right away I knew I’d found something special.”Cheryl was very specific about what she needed. Her new home had to be in a nice location, preferably within walking distance of shops, and not too far away from family and friends. And it had to add up financially too.“I had a particular budget in mind and knew the type of house I wanted to move into. It had to have three bedrooms with one of them...

When Helen and Nigel Greenwood decided to downsize, they were looking for a complete fresh start. From their very first moment exploring Amber by Living Gems, they knew this was the perfect place for them.  Living Gems felt right straight away Before they moved into their new Living Gems home, the Greenwoods lived on Russell Island. With over 1000m2 of gardens that sloped down to the water, it was a beautiful property but the maintenance had become too much for them. Making the decision to move into a smaller place, they soon began their research for their ‘next dream home’. The couple looked at a number of retirement villages and lifestyle resorts – but they just didn’t get the vibe that it was the place for them. Then, they came across Amber by Living Gems. As soon as they visited the resort and met the Sales Manager, Tameeka, they felt instantly comfortable.  “We felt really good. As soon as we walked into Amber by Living...

Larry and Irene Clifford weren’t actively looking to make the move to a lifestyle resort. But when they happened upon Amber by Living Gems, they were sold instantly. From cruisy island life to relaxed community livingBefore moving into Amber by Living Gems, the Cliffords had a lovely house on MacLeay Island. They had decided to sell their home during the peak real estate frenzy. It sold very quickly, but they then needed to find a new place - fast! Not an easy task when houses were getting snapped up before they even went to market!It was then that their daughter came across Amber by Living Gems and she encouraged Larry and Irene to go and have a chat to the team.“As soon we saw the display home we fell in love. Irene was very excited and keen to make the move before we’d even toured any of the homes in the resort,” says Larry.He adds, “Looking at the resort from the...

Tony and Judy Cartwright moved into their brand-new home at Amber by Living Gems in February 2022. Enjoying the ultimate in over-50s living, they are absolutely loving their new, carefree lifestyle.The dream home that is everything … and more!Delighted with their stunning, architecturally designed home, the Cartwrights love the luxurious finishes, easy accessibility, and the open-plan layout.The brand-new home was already built when they first visited Amber by Living Gems, so it was ready for them to move into.“The house is phenomenal, it’s gorgeous! And the timeline to move in suited us perfectly, it was very, very timely,” said Judy.Travelling is a breeze Tony and Judy are avid cruisers and so are often exploring the world. For this reason, it was important for them to know their home was safe and looked after while they’re away.“Knowing our home is safe, with neighbours there to keep an eye on it and water the garden, is very reassuring,” said Judy.Speaking of cruises, the...