Travel club gets people movingFor many Living Gems homeowners, more travel is on top of the bucket list. But travelling solo is not for everyone. Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront homeowner Norman Pressey has just the answer – group travel.Norman Pressey's travel club was profiled in July’s Thrive magazine and he has kindly opened the club to all Living Gems homeowners.“We’ve just got back from a cruise to Vanuatu,” said Norman. “We had a lovely time and part of our group were four single travellers – three ladies and a gent.“One of the ladies said that she would not have gone on a holiday on her own, but it made such a difference to be part of a group. The other two ladies are friends, and they could travel together on their own if they wished, but they said they feel much more comfortable travelling with other people.”In addition to feeling more personally secure in a group, Norman says there is...

Hats off for lifestyle and funSince moving into Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront, John and Joy England have found themselves too busy to travel.Originally from the Moreton Bay Region suburb of Cashmere, the couple were looking for a quality home as well as an unmatched lifestyle. They found it at Living Gems.“We first heard about Living Gems through television ads and then later through friends who have also bought in the resort,” said John.“So, we’ve been keeping an eye on the place for about four years and when the new stage opened, we made our move.”John and Joy live in a beautiful three-bedroom home in the final stage of Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront which includes oversized blocks and unparalleled views across the pristine greenspace that leads down to the Caboolture River."Having that bushland aspect was really important to us,” said John.Was it difficult to downsize from a family-sized home?“Oh no, not at all!” said Joy proudly. “In fact, I have more...

Seven is a lucky number for many. And it could be your lucky number too if you snap up one of the last seven homes remaining at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront.These move-in-ready homes are set on premium sites overlooking the Caboolture River and offer uninterrupted green views.Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront Sales Manager Glenys Lowry said the homes are ideal for those who love entertaining.“Thoughtfully designed open plan living-dining areas open out onto expansive alfrescos to create the ideal space for hosting family gatherings and parties with friends,” she said.“Adding to the feeling of spaciousness are the high ceilings with some designs including skylights to further let natural light in.”Overnight guests can be welcomed with your choice of two sizable second bedrooms which can also be used as a study, library or craft room. The spacious master bedroom is your private retreat for relaxation. Each home offers a master bedroom with an ensuite with double vanity as well as an impressive...

Love is in the air at Living Gems Caboolture with homeowners David and Martine Fryer meeting, falling in love and marrying at the resort.The couple will celebrate their second wedding anniversary on 30 October this year. But it was two moments of tragedy that first brought the couple together."My wife Judy passed away a year after we moved into Living Gems Caboolture," said David. "We'd been married for 56 years, and I was going through an absolute black hole.""I was friends with David's wife when they first moved into the resort as I lived just across the road," said Martine. "Around that time my then-husband and I split."As neighbours, Martine and David were regulars at ten-pin bowling, the Friday happy hour and regular dinners at the Country Club."It just seemed natural that after these events I escort Martine home as she is vision-impaired," said David.Friendship blossomed into love a little over a year later."We were going to wear out the...

Travel broadens the mind and the friendship circle!A suggestion made four years ago by Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront resort managers has seen homeowner Norman Pressey spending his retirement as busy as ever."I've been in the travel industry for about 45 years now," he said. "When I moved into the resort, Mark and Michelle suggested that I might like to start a travel club."I put up a notice in the Country Club for anyone who might be interested in taking part in group travel and between 60 and 70 people showed up!"Norman's experience as a travel agent has enabled him to put together tailored travel packages for groups of between 20 and 30.And as a result, lots of friendships have been formed at the resort and shared experiences have created lasting memories."One of the great things about group travel is that the single ladies in our resort can enjoy travelling too where they may not have wished to do so on...

Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront is home to a man with a fine eye for detail and a camera at the ready to capture the magic of macro photography.David McCormack has been snapping shots since the 80s and although he insists that he’s not a professional, the quality of his photographs tells a different story.“I’ve done a lot of wedding photography and I always wanted to become a photographer but never took that final step,” he says. “Macro is something you can see with your eyes, but you can miss the beauty of it without the lens.Only when you get closer, it becomes a whole new world of fascination.”David takes his remarkable photos with two prized possessions.“I’ve always been a Canon fan ever since I started with a film camera, but these days I work with two digital cameras – a 70D and an 80D.”Besides his stunning macro shots, David enjoys getting snaps at resort events in addition to another special...

Joy, heartbreak but ultimately satisfaction – they’ve been the emotions felt by the dedicated Green Thumbs Garden Group volunteers in the three years since their bountiful vegetable gardens were established at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront.It all began in 2020 when a small group of residents took a walk along the parklands with the resort managers to find a suitable location for a community vegetable garden.With the support of Living Gems, raised garden beds were created and the homeowners went to work improving the soil and raising funds for garden tools and fertilisers.“Our first plan of attack before we started growing anything was to feed the soil and build it up,” said organiser Rayda Wilson.“Once we felt we could start growing seedlings, our appointed ‘purchasing officer’ Bob Pfeiffer was given the task of going to the Caboolture Markets each weekend to buy small numbers of seedlings.”The Green Thumbs Garden Group eschewed the use of pesticides to create an organic garden growing...

Lance and Aileen Cause from Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront showed a can-do spirit back in January 2019 when the Cash for Containers program was announced.“I was at the bar – which is not a usual thing at all - and suggested that we should collect the cans and bottles and take advantage of the program," Aileen notes with a laugh.“Someone said, ‘oh, no one is going to bother for ten cents’, so I called over to Lance and said we’d do it.”How many bottles and cans have they collected over three and a half years?“Oh goodness! I’m not sure of the number, but it’s a lot,” said Aileen.“To the end of last year, we’ve collected $13,000 for the Home Owners’ Committee,” adds Lance.“And at ten cents a piece you can do the maths. This year, so far, we’ve raised $1,200.”Homeowners have thrown their support behind Lance and Aileen by regularly donating their empty cans and bottles to add to the...

There is a remarkable system that exists under the gardens and the roads around Living Gems resorts.It operates silently and without fuss but plays an important role in protecting our environment. It’s known as stormwater harvesting and it ensures runoff that eventually rejoins the waterways is free from pollutants.At Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront, the only sign of this special system above ground is a garden on the southwestern corner of the site with grassy-style plants called a bioretention system.“Bioretention systems provide significant sediment and nutrient removal from stormwater,” said Fred Jedrasiak, head of Living Gems’ in-house design team.“It utilises a sandy loam soil to filter runoff. Sediment particles and suspended solids are trapped in the vegetation and the surface of the bioretention basin. Microorganisms and vegetation remove dissolved nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorus.”While nitrogen and phosphorus are important plant nutrients, it is possible to have too much of a good thing. When that happens, waterways can become clogged with...

Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront hit a major milestone last month with the resort’s bowling green refurbishment now complete.Living Gems Manager of Property and Assets Ben Livingstone said the quality of the facility was among the best on offer in Australia industry-wide.“We made a significant investment to accomplish a top-notch upgrade,” Ben said.Director of Bioscapes Group and the man behind the refurbishment, Dave Bentley, said the facility's size and scope were top tier.“In all the projects I’ve been involved with, Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront maintains the highest level of quality. It’s one of only eight bowling green rinks we've done in this size and is undercover, so residents can play any time of day including nighttime,” he said.To celebrate the refurbishment, the Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront Bowls Committee hosted a barbecue with about 100 people attending, together with new resort managers Maureen and Kevin Johnson.Ben said he was encouraged to bowl on the day and had gained a new appreciation for...

Mothers nurture us, guide us and love us unconditionally, so when it comes to Mother's Day, it is the perfect chance to spoil mum and show her just how much we appreciate everything she does.If you're looking for a gift or things to do on her special day, which falls on 14 May, we have put together a few ideas that may appeal, especially for Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront homeowners. All are within the beautiful Moreton Bay area.  Caboolture Sports Club Celebrate Mother’s Day and enjoy an all-you-can-eat hot and continental plated breakfast buffet including eggs, bacon, pastries, fresh fruits and more. Freshly brewed coffee, tea and juice are included. Plus, for every ticket purchased, diners will receive $5 in free raffle tickets in the Mother's Day Mega Raffle. Tickets are $33 for adults, $16.50 for children 3-12 years (under 3s are free).Visit: cabsports.com.au  Beachmere Hotel Spoil mum this Mother's Day at your beachside coastal local with a buffet breakfast, a la carte lunch...