The people you meet
So many fascinating people call Living Gems communities home, says Glenys Lowry, Sales Manager at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront.
“I get to meet so many people from lots of different walks of life who want to upgrade their lifestyle at our resorts,” she said.
“We have a lot of ex-service personnel and plenty of retired teachers in our ranks – not to mention carpenters, engineers… In fact, name a profession and there will be someone at Living Gems who could put their hand up.”
One of the things people want to know is whether they’re going to fit into an over-50s lifestyle community.
“That’s the great thing about Living Gems – you can be as active or as laid back as you wish,” said Glenys.
“There is never any shortage of things to do – either enjoying the wonderful resort facilities or taking part in one of the many resident-organised events.
“I think the reason why so many people tell me that they’ve discovered a really friendly community is because no matter the professional career or occupation, everyone has something in common.
“I always tell prospective buyers it is like when we all grew up and the neighbours were like an extended family. Residents really do care for one another and make sure everyone is okay.”
In this month’s edition of Thrive, we chat to some of the fascinating people you’ll meet at Living Gems.
Peter Nicols
Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront
“I’ve led a very boring life,” says Peter Nicols but it’s best not to take that at face value.
The army veteran began his military career with the Royal Australian Engineers 32nd Small Ship Squadron.
“Yes, I got to play with boats in the army,” he said. “Over the years some people have thought that it was silly for the army to have boats, but I’d say to them, ‘what do you think the marines are? They’re infantry attached to the navy’.”
After six years of service, Peter went into civilian life and put his engineering background to good use as a consultant in water and sewerage infrastructures on projects which included town water supply in PNG and even to China.
“I designed the water supply and sewerage services for eight hotels in communist China under an Australian Government Aid program in 1979 to help ready the country to accept foreign travelers.”
But he is most proud of the work he has done through The Corps of Commissionaires, of which he is still a serving member. The corps was established in the UK in 1859 to utilise the expertise of ex-servicemen in areas of security and operates in UK, Canada and Australia.
This position saw him serve as Bailiff of the CMC. He also served in a part time position as Post Governor ADC to Sir Walter Campbell who was a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Chancellor of the University of Queensland and the 21st Governor of Queensland from 1985 to 1992.
For the past thirty years, Peter has sat on the Board of Governors of Society of St Andrews of Scotland (Qld) and is a Fellow of the National Museum of Scotland.
He has also conducted anthropology research, specialising in Comparative Linguists.
His last position with the Corps of Commissionaires was a 12-year stint as a consultant in Honours & Awards working with ADF and QPS.
Peter and his wife Judy have called Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront home for almost six years.
“I keep very busy with my military and academic interests and my wife leads a very active social life at Living Gems,” he said. “And that’s the great part about it, you can be as involved as you wish.”
Bob and Glenda Retallick
Living Gems Toowoomba
Food judge and activities connoisseur
“Bob and I moved in about six months ago and haven’t looked back,” says Glenda.
Bob, a food judge of 15 years, still travels a lot for work but Glenda, an avid speed reader and retired medical administrator, has now become the busier of the two.
“I travel a lot for my food judging work and Glenda was always bored so she used to speed read books all the time,” Bob says. “Since we moved to Living Gems Toowoomba, it’s Glenda who I now must book time in with, as she is so involved in activities here at the resort with all our wonderful neighbours.
“I make an appointment on a Sunday afternoon to see her the next week, so she’s become the active woman she was at 35 thanks to Living Gems,” Bob says.
“Bob now has to check my diary to find out when I’m home – we have to compare diaries to book our dates together,” Glenda smiles.
Glenda participates in games of tennis, table tennis, water aerobics, ten-pin bowling, a walking group and continues to line up new activities each week. Bob isn’t the only busy one now.
“I was the head food judge for the World Butchers Challenge where 16 countries around the world compete. I judged cooked and raw meat, sausages, food in general, pies, even gluten-free products in Ireland, Sacramento, Dubai, Iceland, Italy and South Africa,” he says. “I also judge for the Baking Association of Australia whenever they need me.
“It’s a great job but you have to try a lot of food, so unless it’s really amazing, you have to spit a lot out because you just couldn’t fit it all in.”
Bob says being a food judge is not as glamourous as it sounds, especially when you finish judging and later wish you had another chance to eat the food for enjoyment.
“In Hong Kong, the food is so beautiful, but they give you so much that I just chew three times to get the flavour and texture and spit it out as I just couldn’t fit it all in,” he says.
