Living Gems, Living Gems Pacific Paradise

Living Gems Home Owners making a difference

Home Owners Jan and Barry Smith have spent their working lives in a nomadic fashion, moving all over New South Wales, from Boorowa to Dubbo and everywhere in between. 12 months ago, they made the move to Living Gems Pacific Paradise and aren’t planning on leaving anytime soon. Jan tells us more about their lifestyle since moving in to the Resort.

We moved around plenty whilst Barry was working as a banker, mine accountant and school bursar and myself as a teacher in New South Wales. Eventually we settled in Batemans Bay and enjoy the coastal lifestyle there for 13 years until we decided to make the move up the Sunshine Coast. We lived in Buderim for three and a half years before discovering Living Gems Pacific Paradise.

My sister was already looking to buy here at Living Gems Pacific Paradise, so we thought we would come and have a look around. Barry and I decided that this would be the perfect place to live and we’ve been thoroughly enjoying the lifestyle ever since. We both love the incredible sense of community here; everyone is very friendly, social and supportive. We chose the right resort.

My sister, Helen and I have been very involved with the Social Committee, the Committee was only in its early stages when we first moved here, but since the opening of our Country Club at the end of 2017 numbers have been growing.

As chair of the Committee I have been busy organising everything from craft groups to monthly catered meals.  Our Committee recently organised a Biggest Morning Tea event to help raise funds for cancer.

Cancer has touched my family many times, so this is a cause that is close to my heart. I had previously held the event when living in Batemans Bay and raised $17,000 over five years, so I thought let’s see what we can do at Living Gems.

All the Home Owners provided the food; we had sandwiches and cakes and opened the bar to serve champagne and orange juice. Local businesses donated prizes that we could raffle off and, in the end, we raised $1140 – more than twice our goal! 60 homeowners and friends attended, it was a wonderful way to raise awareness and a donation for the cause.

Last Sunday we fired up the industrial ovens in the Country Club, greased the egg rings, lined our baking trays and out came delicious bacon and egg rolls – a masterpiece that we decided should be repeated every month.

There is always something happening at our little resort. We all enjoy “Friday at Five”, the monthly happy hour event hosted in the country club. Members of the social committee help out by serving up the drinks at the bar. Every month we have a lady’s day out in the resort bus, the last trip was to Montville including morning tea at Secrets on the Lake.

Next month, we will have Christmas in July and a band will be coming to play 60s rock music on 13 July for our Black Friday themed night.

It is wonderful to be surrounded by friends and family, enjoying great food, drink and entertainment. Barry and I are hardly ever home!

More information
1800 978 388
victoria@livinggems.com.au