What a month for our Living Gems homeowners! While some resorts attended fabulous big-name performances, others welcomed new neighbours, expanded their vocal range, shared fine dining with friends, and even sailed across some of the seven seas.

Firstly, Thrive wants to congratulate all new residents on their settlements over the past month. Welcome to Toowoomba Debra Buckley and Wayne and Ruth Dixon, and to Amber, we welcome Diana and Glen Maynard who have joined the Living Gems family. Although we would love to add photos of every settlement here, we can only include a small handful each month.

Speaking of Toowoomba, several resident homes were involved in a progressive dinner. Pre-dinner drinks were served in one home, the entrée in the next home and so on. Bob and Glenda, nice work on the final dropin at your place for cigars for the gents and Baileys for the ladies. See page 12 for more information.

Caboolture is in the news again too, with some incredible showstopping performances attended by residents. The list included big names like Normie Rowe, The Ten Tenors, Issi Dye and Killer Queen, who rocked the roof off the Club House and entertained 240 residents. The Royal Australian Navy Band also put on a performance for 256 of the resort’s residents. Thank you to the Ex-Service Support Group for organising the performance, Gayle Harris for her valued contributions, and Leanne Lowrie for always snapping great pics.

While some stayed local, other Caboolture residents jumped aboard a P&O cruise to Papua New Guinea including a visit to the Kiriwina Islands where everyone had a blast with the locals.

New Thrive Resort Round-up participants, Living Gems Pacific Paradise, have made the roll call in this month’s friendship edition. Be sure to check out the front cover and pages 4 to 7 for their story. Congratulations to newly elected social president Phil Layton. And thanks for sending us Rhonda Wallace’s picture of Pacific Paradise’s ever-growing choir. With Beverley Layton at the piano, Thrive looks forward to hearing about perfectly pitched future performances.

And finally, Amber residents celebrated friendship with some fun get togethers at the resort full of good food, great company and a fine wine or two. See page 13.

Did we mention the State of Origin battle continues at this resort? There are some sore Blues supporters nursing their wounded pride before the final game. It’s a bit of a touchy subject so Thrive will refrain from further comment.