There is an easy familiarity between Laura and David Tester from Amber at Living Gems that demonstrates the friendship their relationship is founded on.
A second marriage for both, the couple married in 1984 and have enjoyed a life of adventure and exploration in the years since.
“We were friends before we got together,” said Laura. “We were part of a badminton club in Victoria and we played regularly both at B-grade and A-grade levels.
“Unfortunately for me, I was in a car accident overseas and injured my shoulder, so I went from playing three times a week to nothing. It was very frustrating sitting on the sidelines watching David play when I couldn’t.”
“We had wanted to go to Egypt and China before COVID, but I think we’ll be staying local,” said Laura.
Those local travels have taken them to Uluru as well as destinations closer to home, some of them via motorbike. David still gets out on the open road on his Kawasaki.
“I used to ride with him but it’s a bit too uncomfortable for me now,” she laughs.
The Living Gems lifestyle has been part of the adventure too.
Laura and David were the first residents to move into Amber by Living Gems in leafy Logan Village and it is their third home at a Living Gems’ over-50s lifestyle resort.
“We moved into Sapphire at the very beginning,” said Laura. “The community atmosphere was absolutely lovely and when the resort managers moved to the Living Gems Maleny resort, we followed them and enjoyed a great Sunshine Coast hinterland lifestyle.”
But after a while, the call of the southern coast was just too great.
“Our grandchildren live in this part of South East Queensland, so we wanted to be somewhere relatively close,” said Laura.
“We’ve made so many great friends here. In fact David is across the road at Living Gems Opal, playing table tennis with some of the other fellows and that gives me time to spend on my crossword puzzles.”
Laura says a little give and take, friendship, and a willingness to look after one another is the secret to their long and happy marriage.
