Office romance blossoms for Luke and Karen

For Karen Plath it was the sound of her future husband’s voice that first brought him to her attention.

Luke and Karen, who live at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront, celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary last year.

“I’d not long started a new job in the insurance company that Luke worked in,” said Karen. “In fact, he was in the cubicle next to mine and occasionally he would sing. Luke sings really well.

“One day I told him that he had a lovely voice. We started chatting and then the next thing you know we were on our first date – a cruise on the Brisbane River by riverboat.”

And it wasn’t too long before Luke, who has one daughter, and Karen who has three sons, had become inseparable.

“He is such a kind and caring man, very chivalrous,” said Karen. “He’ll always open the car door for me.”

Luke proposed following a romantic meal at Birches at Mount Mee, a restaurant famed for its spectacular views across Moreton Bay.

The couple decided to move from acreage to Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront after yard maintenance became too much.

“I’ve always enjoyed looking after the gardens and doing the mowing, so Luke doesn’t have to, but I did have a few health issues and I found the property just too difficult to manage,” she said. “We started looking at downsizing and came across Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront and it had everything we were looking for.”

At the resort, Luke’s musical ability has attracted quite the following.

He takes part in the shows the residents put on in the resort’s Country Club. Last Christmas, Luke donned a tuxedo and sang (the Engelbert Humperdinck standard) Quando, Quando, Quando and all the ladies swooned.

“In fact, one of the ladies asked him if he would go on a cruise and sing for her on the ships!” said Karen proudly.

The resort’s regular karaoke nights have also seen Luke recognised for his musical ability.

“We have people from outside the resort who come in to help us on these nights and they’ve offered Luke a job to perform at some of their events,” said Karen. “I forgot to mention that Luke also plays guitar and used to be in bands.”

Is there any chance of a new duo entertaining at the resort?

“Not me! I don’t sing – I don’t like the sound of my voice,” she said. “I did play keyboards when I was much younger and that’s something I’m looking forward to doing a lot more of, and I’ve asked Luke to teach me how to play guitar.”

The couple have called Living Gems home for the past three years and they love it.

“The whole community is just so friendly; we also have regular street parties. It’s so nice to be part of a community where everyone is so supportive of one another.”