2023 has been a busy year in our active communities.

What a year 2023 has been! Our wonderful communities have had fun socialising and going on travel adventures. But more than that, our homeowners also show great heart with fundraisers and practical support for vital local charities.

Last year kicked off to a great start with fresh and modern new branding for Living Gems, along with a new website and the launch of Thrive, a glossy magazine for and about our amazing Living Gems residents, current and future!

Over the past 12 months, the beautiful new Country Club at Amber by Living Gems really started taking shape and it won’t be long before it is ready for its grand opening in early 2024. The $10.5 million double-storey facility will become the heart of this lovely community.

Throughout the year street parties have been the order of the day as new homeowners were enthusiastically greeted by their neighbours. Lots of friendships have been formed with plenty of activities happening within the resort as well as dinners, trips and entertainment.

The Final Stage of Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront was released this year with premium homes featuring beautiful aspects that look out over greenspace and down to the Caboolture River. New homeowners are always met by a friendly group of residents whose days are filled with lots of activities including line dancing and ballroom dancing, woodworking and textile crafts as well as their outstanding veggie garden.

Travel is always high on the agenda and resident Norman Pressey opened his travel club to all Living Gems homeowners. Also, this year marked the opening of the refurbished undercover lawn bowls facility and a big hello to new resort managers Maureen and Kevin Johnson who have become much loved members of the community.

Living Gems communities are also very generous with both Sapphire by Living Gems and Opal by Living Gems holding fundraisers for many good causes including Defenders for Hope and MND And Me. Sapphire residents are to be congratulated for raising $7000 for various worthy causes.

Punitha Le Jambre from Living Gems Maleny gives hands-on support for charity by growing and cooking food to support a food bank in Nambour.

What a beautiful part of the world Maleny is with Sandy Gillis capturing a photo of one of the playful platypuses that live in Obi Obi Creek.

Many of these fundraisers were part and parcel of fun events hosted by the homeowners at these resorts where there was an abundance of great food, lots of dress-ups and plenty of laughter as well.

In April, Thrive honoured the many men and women who served our defence forces with profiles in the special Anzac edition of the magazine.

At Living Gems Gold Coast, the community welcomed new resort managers James Bridge and Chelsie Steele. Homeowners are just loving the new indoor heated pool facility – particularly Paddy Gearon who at 100, is a regular at the facility. Also at the Gold Coast resort, Roy McKeen tells of his close encounters with world famous people, as did Teresa Gent from Ruby by Living Gems.

It’s always busy at Ruby where the resort held a Mad Hatter’s tea party, the ten-pin bowling team marked their 12th anniversary, the Quills group writing up a storm and publishing an anthology and, if you don’t know what activities to join, the resort also holds an open day where there is a showcase for all the clubs.

To the delight of Phil and Bev Layton, Living Gems Pacific Paradise is home to many artists who hold monthly exhibitions in the Country Club. Phil made himself an invaluable part of the community by volunteering to be president of the resort’s social club. In addition to going out on lots of excursions, including wine tasting adventures, Bev’s talents on the piano have inspired the resort’s choir who have increased their numbers from five to 25.

Here’s to a happy and exciting 2024 with plenty of fun and great memories to come!