Self-Management is Complicated

My feet had barely hit the ground at Mountain View when the Annual General Meeting was called. I was too busy settling in to care about the politics of the place, but the agenda included a motion to terminate the Strata Manager. Self-management is complicated in a large scheme, so I wondered if that would be a wise decision to make.

There was a lot to be said at that meeting, and as a relatively new resident I listened to all the arguments, for and against. When I cast my vote in favour of self-management I was confident we could do it.

Just before the AGM I was nominated for a position on the Strata Committee, and I’ve been part of that great committee since then.

It’s a tough gig but someone has to do it

Giving time to be on the Strata Committee has been an honour and a privilege, but it hasn’t been without problems.

The legislation that governs Strata Schemes in New South Wales has changed, and the changes have increased the complexity of managing large schemes like ours. None of the committee members are trained Strata Managers; we’ve been a lot of things in our other lives, but not Strata Managers.

We are a large Strata Scheme and we need the expertise of a fully qualified Strata Manager to guide us.

David does an amazing job as our Community Manager, but the last thing he needs is the extra strain of helping us keep up with changes in the legislation.

What does the legislation say?

The Strata Committee put in a lot of hours in the lead up to presenting Motions to residents at a General Meeting, as per legislation.

The Owners voted on:

  • whether we need a Strata Manager
  • which of the two proposals to accept for the appointment of a Strata Manager (dependent on the outcome of the first Motion)

The Motions and two proposals from prospective Strata Management companies were presented at a General Meeting. And the residents of this great village voted in favour of a Strata Manager, and in favour of appointing BCS to manage this fabulous place we live in.

The Strata Committee is still relevant, but the hard work will now be borne by BCS generally, and Matthew (our new Strata Manager) specifically.

Yep! Self-management is complicated

So we can all relax, safe in the knowledge that BCS will handle the hard stuff. They know the legislation inside-out and can answer all those tough questions.

Do we still need a Strata Committee?

Mountain View is a Strata Scheme, even though we have an increasing number of Leasehold units. Until we are 100% Leasehold, we will be a Strata Scheme, and a Strata Scheme has to have a Strata Committee.

I would encourage Owners to consider nominating for a position on the Strata Committee at future elections. We sorted the hard stuff so you can have a much easier experience than the current committee has had.

And what about David?

David will now be able to focus on what he needs to do as Community Manager. The appointment of BCS takes a lot of pressure off him.

The majority of residents love where they live and want to live peacefully and harmoniously with their neighbours. There are a few residents who aren’t happy but that’s life; the rest of us just keep on being happy.

I often wonder how David survived all the hard stuff that went on behind the scenes, but he did. He handles it all without even breaking a sweat – he saves the sweat for the football field after work. There’s a lot to be said for a good physical workout after a stressful day.

If it isn’t working, call Dave!

Who do we call when a water main bursts? Dave! He knows which mains to turn off and what to do until the plumber arrives.

Dave is a man of few words – unless you ask for a progress report on his new granddaughter. Then out comes the modern-day brag book (the trusty smart-phone) with the latest photos and videos. And because we all know the mother (and father) of this beautiful baby, we can’t get enough reports of how she is growing.

Dave will still do what he does best – look after the everyday maintenance stuff.

Jason and the gardeners…

Nothing will change on the garden front. Jason will still manage his fabulous team to keep our gardens as beautiful as they always are.

One of the first things visitors notice are the gardens, especially in spring. We live in a kaleidoscope of colour, carefully planned and cultivated by our amazing gardening team, originally led by Eddie, and now capably managed by his son, Jason. Our twenty-eight acres of spectacular bushland are a credit to this amazing team.

So what happens now?

  • BCS will take care of the big stuff
  • David is still at the helm as Community Manager
  • the girls will continue to manage the office and call-outs
  • Jason and his team will still look after the gardens
  • Dave will fix everything that needs fixing (within his job description) and keep us updated on the progress of his beautiful granddaughter
  • the Strata Committee will liaise with the Strata Manager and continue to make decisions about Common Property

Mountain View is in good hands

Self-management is complicated, and that’s why it’s better to hand the management over to BCS. And we can all get on with what we do best: enjoy our retirement.

And that’s how it should be!

Continue reading Self-Management is Complicated

Boy Babies Wear Blue Booties… Don’t They?

Mine was one of the generations raised with the gender defining notion that boy babies wore blue booties, and girl babies wore pink booties.

Fast forward to 2019 – those boy babies are now in their 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and blue has been ditched in favour of pink.

For seniors who attended the recent Project Pink function at Mountain View Retirement Village, the room was a sea of pink. Our now more senior boy babies wore pink shirts, pink ties, pink braces, and pink hats.

There was not a blue bootie to be seen… anywhere.

Pink bras were strung high and wide, along with the usual bunting and balloons.

So why would these trend-setters of the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s don their finest pink outfits, and assemble in the Community Centre on a fine day in October?

Because….

Mountain View Retirement Village puts on an annual event to raise money for the PA‘ s research into Breast Cancer.

Project Pink – Mountain View Style

Project Pink is our way of raising money for a great cause, and residents came out in full force to support it.

Food was plentiful and the drinks flowed.

Each attendee paid a nominal fee to attend, and then untied the purse-strings to buy heaps of raffle tickets.

You could be forgiven for thinking the cost of admission wouldn’t even cover the cost of lunch, let alone drinks and raffle prizes.

And it didn’t. We had some serious help with the funding.

Aveo supports Project Pink events in its communities across the country, with an aim to raise one million dollars for the cause.

Businesses in Murwillumbah donated generously to make sure there were enough raffle prizes.

And the staff and residents of Mountain View worked tirelessly on the day.

David, Dave and John flipped burgers and sausages on the BBQ.

Shanneen, Ellen and Kerrie took care of everything inside.

And Ray, one of the boy babies adorned in pink, greeted guests and helped sell raffle tickets.

Residents ate, drank and were merry – their participation making a difference to the families who have or will be affected by Breast Cancer in their lifetime.

Have you heard me say Murwillumbah is the best place to live?

Here’s why…

Resident volunteers took to the streets of Murwillumbah a few weeks before the event and ‘door-knocked’ businesses. I visited five places who all generously donated gifts or services, and the other volunteers had similar results.

There was no shortage of fabulous prizes donated by the generous businesses within the Murwillumbah community.

The table and notice board overflowed with the generous donations from Murwillumbah businesses.

You could have heard a pin drop when David started calling out the raffle winners. Eyes focussed on lucky (or not..) tickets, as each attendee waited with much anticipation to hear their lucky number called out.

There may have even been a bit of skullduggery going on between winners because I’m sure I noticed a couple of deals going down.

I know Wendy and Ray came to some kind of arrangement.

“Love your new haircut, Ray”.

“Nice new pot-plant, Wendy!”.

Those who didn’t win were grateful that the purchase of their tickets helped raise much needed funds for research into Breast Cancer.

We raised a little over $1500.00!

That’s a mammoth effort for the little community up on the hill.

And we could not have done it without the support of Aveo, and our Murwillumbah community.

A Huge Thank You To:

The amazing Aveo Mountain View management team for their dedication and energy in organising the event, food, drinks and BBQ.

Shanneen, for orchestrating the event from beginning to end.

The residents of Mountain View Retirement Village who:

  • helped cook the great BBQ lunch
  • attended the function
  • bought heaps of raffle tickets

Thank you to all who attended and made the day a huge success, and most importantly, those who delved deep into their wardrobes to find something pink to wear.

And an even bigger Thank You! to these amazingly-generous Murwillumbah businesses for opening their hearts (and wallets) to donate the amazing prizes that helped us raise a whole lot of money.

Your generous donations have made a big difference and we thank you, sincerely.

  • Australia Post
  • B Spoilt Hair Salon
  • Balcony Restaurant
  • Beverley’s on Main Street
  • Bottle-O Bray Park
  • Bi-Rite Electrical
  • Bray Park Butchery
  • Cafe 81
  • Chantilly Boutique
  • Country Style Barber
  • Con Varella Pharmacy
  • Dinki Di Discounts
  • JH Williams
  • Juju’s Cafe
  • Katrina Hair Salon
  • Keith’s Cafe
  • Lavender Blue
  • Mapp & Hession Pharmacy
  • Mother Js Nursery
  • Murwillumbah Cellars
  • Murwillumbah Golf Club
  • Murwillumbah RSL Club
  • New Leaf Cafe
  • Office Choice
  • Opal Nails
  • Outdoorism
  • Priceline
  • Rumour Has It
  • Soul Pattinson Pharmacy
  • Sports World
  • Sutto’s Floor Coverings
  • Sunnyside Meats
  • Take a Break Cafe
  • The Foundry
  • The Style Shop
  • Tweed Fruit Exchange

And at the end of the day, our boy babies…..

….. hung up their pink shirts, dusted off their pink hats, and folded their pink ties and braces. Will the pink gear be kept in a dark cupboard until next year’s Project Pink, or will our boy babies show up in their finest pink garb at other events?

That is the burning question that only time will tell.

Come back and visit this page often, and if you can support any of these local businesses, it would be a great way to thank them for donating to the PA’s Research into Breast Cancer, through Mountain View’s Project Pink function.

Did we miss knocking on your door this year?

If you would like to support Mountain View’s Project Pink next year by donating goods or services, make sure you leave a comment on this page, or contact the office at Mountain View Retirement Village to have your name added to the list for 2020.

Bring on the Pink!!

Wrap Your Laughing Gear Around This!

Wrap your laughing gear around this, and let’s dissect this whole ‘ageing and happiness’ business.

“You don’t stop laughing when you grow old; you grow old when you stop laughing”

George Bernard Shaw
Wrap your laughing gear around this…
image from Pixabay

Who Wants To Grow Old Before Their Time!?

Retiring from a long, stressful career in Education has given me the freedom to kick back and enjoy life. And one of the best decisions I made before hanging up the chalk for the last time, was to buy a unit at Aveo Mountain View Retirement Village.

Living in Paradise!

I meet people every day who have ‘happiness’ written all over their face. Their smile brightens even the dreariest winter’s day. Life, love and laughter emanate from their every word and motion. Even those who have the least to smile about, find something in their day to be happy about.

Those who have mobility challenges, or are wracked with pain, still smile. Perhaps they are thankful for waking up each day to the beautiful sounds of nature that abound in our twenty-eight acres of Paradise.

You can spend the whole day crying about it, or you can learn to love the cold…

I recently read an interesting story about a father and son in Norway. When the boy was about four years old, the father took him ice-fishing. The son was not happy because ice-fishing means standing around on a big block of ice for a very long time, and it was seriously cold. He soon made his feelings known in no uncertain terms, as a four year old would, and he cried.

The response from his father gave the son a life-lesson that he never forgot.

“Look, you’re here now. You can either spend the whole day crying about it, or you can learn to love the cold. You’ve got a choice. You can either choose to be miserable, or choose to love the cold.’ And so that’s what we did. We just learned to love the cold.”

Jon Giaan

We All Have Choices

We can either cry about a situation, or learn to love it. The choice is ours.

That doesn’t mean we have to blindly accept every situation we find ourselves in. It means we have the choice to accept the situation or change it. If we can’t change it, then accepting it – learning to love it – is the best option.

Changing the weather in a cold Norwegian winter isn’t an option. The father’s advice to learn to love the cold made a life-long difference to the way his son viewed life.

If you can’t change a situation, then embrace it and learn to love it.

If you can change it – change it.

You even have a choice in how you change a situation.

You can:

  • Grumble about it and make everyone else miserable as well
  • Rant and rave and get people offside – often it’s the people you need to have on-side that you upset the most
  • Blame everyone else for the situation – when often the challenging situation reflects a choice you have made and now regret
  • Hold on to a grudge – some people seem to like being unhappy
  • Ignore genuine help to solve a problem – as above, some people don’t really want a solution, even if it is handed to them on a silver platter – they seem to prefer to grumble and complain
  • Acknowledge those who offer solutions – and work with them to bring about the change you want to make

And that’s what puts the smile on the faces of the people I meet every day.

They are happy to work with those who are striving for positive changes in their own life, and the lives of others.

And if it can’t be changed?

By learning to accept situations – learning to love the ‘cold’, we become, or remain, happier people.

Getting back to the wisdom of George Bernard Shaw – we grow old when we stop laughing.

And Who Wants To Grow Old Before Their Time?

Not Me!

… and obviously not the majority of people who live in Mountain View Retirement Village.

As for the few unhappy people in the village – who knows? Maybe the infectious laughter of the rest of us will show them that growing old (and grumpy) is a choice.

So wrap your laughing gear around all the fun things on offer in the Village, and stay as young as you are!

Life can be tough – but how you handle it is your choice. You can laugh or you can cry. Both probably take the same amount of effort – so why not laugh?

“Laugh, and the world laughs with you…”

Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Stay young folks – the choice is yours!

And It beats the heck out of being old – and grumpy!

Disclaimer: This post does not intend to diminish Mental Health issues, especially Anxiety and/or Depression. The post simply aims to highlight the choice for individuals to focus on happiness rather than sadness. Unless otherwise stated, all information contained herein is the opinion of the author. The post does not constitute a diagnosis or specific treatment of any physiological or mental disorder. If this post has raised questions concerning long-term anxiety, sadness or depression, please seek advice from a professional.

The Author: Maureen Durney

Retirement Re-Badged

Aveo China Campus

Being part of a Retirement Village can have it’s benefits – beyond the obvious: like-minded neighbours; peaceful and quiet living; security of having retired neighbours watching out for your unit while you travel the world; no gardens to maintain – lawns to mow – pool to clean (someone else takes care of all of these).

If you’re in an Aveo Village, retirement just got a whole lot better!

Being part of an Aveo Retirement Village has an extra bonus – reciprocal visits to the China Campus.

The inaugural exchange happened in October 2016, and I’m proud to say I took the challenge and signed up for a two-week tour of the village near Shanghai. Residents of the Aveo Group of retirement villages in Australia were eligible to participate in the inaugural trip and 20 residents from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and the Gold Coast opted to blaze the trail for future travellers. Aveo plan to take 4 groups each year, as well as arranging for our Chinese counterparts to visit our fair shores and see how we define retirement here in Australia.

My limited knowledge of China and all things Chinese had me believing that we would be teaching the Chinese residents a lot about being active in our later years. We were asked to bring equipment and expertise to teach the gentle art of Lawn Bowls, and I assumed we would be teaching a lot more than that while we were there. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Yes, we did take some Bowls, and yes, those with expertise did teach the finer points of using them, but that’s (almost) where our part of the exchange ends. We did manage to teach our hosts the words and actions of ‘Give Me A Home Among The Gum Trees’, but more about that later.

A very successful cultural exchange, on the croquet ground? Oh well, it worked.

As perfect hosts, our Chinese counterparts welcomed us with open arms and treated us like royalty during our stay.

The Chinese residents couldn’t have done more to ensure our stay was perfect in every way

My view of retirement until then was that retirement is passive. It’s something that happens to you at the end of a usually busy career. It’s when you start working your way through the long list of books you stockpiled over the busy years, with the words ‘for retirement reading’ embossed on each cover, even though the History of Russia will be ancient history by the time I actually get to read it.

Retirement is what we look forward to, but worry about finding enough to do to keep us occupied. It’s about winding down; taking it easy; being a lot more sedentary.

But that isn’t how it is in China. There are courses for those who may not have had the opportunity to go to College, and dedicated classrooms and teachers ensure that learning is successful. Some residents are studying English, while others master Calligraphy, Mahjong, or Music. The sounds and signs of practice can be heard and seen throughout the campus. The melodic notes from a piano or flute float down from an upper floor window and calligraphic signs adorn the walls and halls of the learning areas.

The evenings are for gentle exercise in the Quadrangle in fine weather, or the Community Hall if the skies open up.  The days are for the full rigour of the gym under the expert guidance of a personal trainer. And the residents are there: in the quad gaining strength of mind and body with every disciplined but poised movement; in the gym toning muscles and ensuring flexibility in the aging process; in the pool pushing laps; in the dance studio learning the ancient art of traditional Chinese dance or ballroom dancing; in the library stretching the mind; in the craft room creating exquisite masterpieces to share with friends. Participation is active and interactive. Retirement isn’t a passive phase that happens to them, it is a new stage of active learning and growth. Even ballroom dancing is undertaken with skill and precision and there were many talented couples tripping the light fantastic on the dance floor on our first night on the campus.

And the concert at the end of our tour was spectacular! Choirs sang, musicians played ancient instruments, and Mr Bridge Lee gave a very professional rendition of Santa Lucia and Moscow Nights. And the Aussies? Well, what else would you expect? ‘Give Me A Home Among The Gum Trees’, complete with actions, was the order of the day (hastily put together on the day, I might add), and was very well received by all. Our Chinese hosts loved it! and even requested an Encore after our Farewell Dinner the night before we left. Our Aussie host, Julie, was a bit ‘over it’ after the third or fourth time of seeing us all up on the big screen in the Quadrangle, belting out every last note of the song, but I suspect just a little of that stemmed from the homesickness the song evoked in her, having been away from our fair shores for more than just a few years while overseeing the setting up of the China Campus.

I came back to our village with a new perspective on retirement.  I want to re-write the script. There is no need for the retirement phase to be the final journey when it could so easily be reversed to become a new beginning.

The view from my balcony – and this is winter!

What could we achieve in our later years if we adopt a philosophy of learning new skills: A second language; Writing a novel; Learning to play an instrument? Anything is possible – we are limited only by our imagination. We just have to change our mindset from master to student, and actively engage in learning.

The difference between East and West is no more clearly defined than in the learning centres of the China Campus. The emphasis is on learning, training and discipline.

Happy Retirement!

Photos of China

Photos from China

On the second day of the tour, Joan, Lynette and I decided to check out Zhujiajia, a town just 10 minutes from the Campus. We were fascinated by the waterways that divided the town, with access from one side to the other being across unique stone bridges. From the centre of the main bridge we had a view of both sides.

Joan & Lyn on a blustery day in Zu Zha Zhou
Joan & Lynette on a blustery day in Zhujiajia

img_9803
The essence of China – Zhujiajiao

Our first major expedition was to Nanjing. The bus took us to Shanghai Station where we boarded the Bullet Train to Nanjing. The train was fast, quiet, and extremely comfortable. Attendants provided snacks and bottles of juice along the way, and we were able to sit back and relax, taking in the unique scenery that we sped past on the journey south.

I guess that's why it's called the Bullet Train?
The Bullet Train – fast and comfortable

A selfie with Ping Ping

 

 

 

 

A selfie with Ping Ping (Kelly) our tour guide at the start of our 3-day stay in Shanghai. We were booked into the fabulous Radisson Blu for 2 nights.

img_9790

An old London Cab in Nanjing
An old London Cab

 

 

 

 

img_0038
Mr Lee enjoys the Chinese Opera at the Tea House

 

img_0163
A trishaw – still a good way to get around town

The view from the 25th floor
The view from the 25th floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel in Shanghai.

 

After a great dinner at Lost Heaven Restaurant, we were treated to a spectacular view of the city on our first night in Shanghai.

img_1756

img_1758

The trip included a mind-blowing show on a very wet night in Shanghai, featuring acrobatic acts. The level of fitness and precision involved in the acts was unbelievable. The highlight was eight motorbikes zipping around the inside of a cylindrical wire frame, at great speed, in synchronised precision. The worst part was I couldn’t take any photos, so you’ll just have to believe how impressive it was. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I’d say it was impossible.

The dinner before the show was just as special; a Hot Pot at a restaurant in the shopping centre next to the hotel.

The following photo is from a model of the campus. To say it is huge certainly wouldn’t do it justice. I have so many photos and stories to share it will take me a while to catch up, but I’ll certainly try

img_9512
Aveo China Campus – model

China Trip Photos

A selfie with Ping Ping
A selfie with Ping Ping in Shanghai

Joan & Lyn on a blustery day in Zu Zha Zhou
Joan & Lynette on a blustery day in Zhujiajiao

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

img_9790

Now that's smart!
Now that’s smart!

An old London Cab in Nanjing
An old London Cab

img_9487
Coming into Nanjing Station on a cloudy evening

I guess that's why it's called the Bullet Train?
I guess that’s why it’s called the Bullet Train?

Spectacular scenes abound in the beautiful gardens
Spectacular scenes abound in the beautiful gardens

img_0038
Mr Lee enjoys the Chinese Opera at the Tea House

img_0163
A trishaw – still a good way to get around town

The view from the 25th floor

The view from the 25th floor of the Radisson Blu Hotel in Shanghai.

After a great dinner at Lost Heaven Restaurant, we were treated to a spectacular view of the city on our first night in Shanghai.

img_1756

img_1758

The trip included a spectacular show featuring acrobatic acts on a very wet night. The level of fitness and precision involved in the acts was unbelievable. The highlight was eight motorbikes zipping around the inside of a cylindrical wire frame, at great speed, in synchronised precision. The worst part was I couldn’t take any photos so you’ll just have to believe how impressive it was. If I hadn’t seen it myself, I’d say it was impossible.

The dinner before the show was just as special; a Hot Pot at a restaurant in the shopping centre next to the hotel.

The following photos are from a model of the campus. To say it is huge certainly wouldn’t do it justice. I have so many photos and stories to share it will take me a while to catch up, but I’ll certainly try

img_9512
Aveo China Campus – model