Upper Coomera.AUG/SEPT 2018

Countries go to (bowling) war!What the State of Origin or World Cup is to rugby league, the “Bloody Slow Cup” is to our fanatical Palm Lake Resort Upper Coomera bowlers. Our bowlers claim their born and bred heritage to form six teams in the hope of winning our ‘international’ competition and the prized Bloody Slow Cup. This year, Australia has entered three teams all sporting green and gold, New Zealand in black and white, England with traditional red and white and our ‘Rest of the World’ team dons blue and white. The fact that they are fellow residents has little to do with the competition – it’s country against country and it’s all on! There are rules to follow and team captains to obey.

Games consist of triples and pairs with triple winners gaining three points and pairs gaining two points to their respective cumulative scores (if you are in a losing team, your score is zero). If you forfeit within 14 days, the opposing team will be awarded four points. In the event of a draw, teams play one extra end to decide the winner. This is a very competitive cup that requires patience, stamina and dedication. A friendly barbeque is permitted where teams decide they have worked up an appetite!

The Bloody Slow Cup trophy (pictured above) was donated by Max McIntyre and is dressed in the colours of the competing teams on Grand Final

day. Due to weather conditions, holidays and doctors’ appointments the competition has had to go into extended time in keeping to the name of the cup: “bloody slow”! At the time of publication of this newsletter, England and Australia B lead the competition. To check out our other teams, turn to our “Around the grounds” section on Pages 8-9 of this newsletter.

RESORT NEWS

BIRTHDAY WISHES

What’s happening.AU G / S E P T

Where have the last two months gone? So many people are saying that time is flying and so it is. You will have noticed some refreshing of facilities around the resort including painting, street light cleaning, resurfacing of the pool table, power supply to the main barbecue area, shade sails and other items, with more work still to come.

A big thank you must go to Walter, Scott and Manuel for the tiling of the pool - it looks amazing and is much appreciated. Bring on summer so everyone can enjoy the cool refreshing water! Congratulations to Bryan (Villa 53) for having the first ‘dip’ as he continues to use the pool all year round.

It is great to see so many residents taking advantage of being able to leave home in secure hands, while they travel in their caravan, go on a cruise or visit those places far and wide that they have dreamed of seeing ‘one day’. Don’t forget to watch the noticeboard, check the clipboards and chat amongst yourselves to keep up to date on what is happening socially and what is coming up. Thank you to all those who put on these social events, giving freely of their time and talents.

Remember, if you are mainly positive, you will focus on good things, happy thoughts and successful outcomes. Your attitude determines your direction.

Trish & Rik Resort caretakers

International Day of Charity They say that giving isn’t just about making a donation – it’s about making a difference. On September 5, make a difference in any way that you can in and around the resort, whether it’s a fundraiser, spreading awareness or simply lending a hand to someone in need.

Above: Picked only about an hour before hitting the sales table, our Garden Club’s produce was happily sold by Helen and Neville to Jo, Mal and Kaye. Prices were cheap, cheap cheap! The varieties of lettuces were crunchy and crisp, tomatoes sweet and Barb’s tasty homemade lemon spread was quickly snapped up. Lemons perfect in colour, size and taste were just what was needed for the winter blues. All the produce is organically grown and pest free.

COMMUNITY NOTICES

MAKE A NOTE

Special love goes out to the following residents who will celebrate another year of life in the coming months:

August Graham Walker (Aug 5) Jan Mills (Aug 10) Geoff East (Aug 11) Jan Edwards (Aug 15) Terry Garland (Aug 17) Laurie McGrath (Aug 18) Gerry Greenwood (Aug 21) John Shapland (Aug 26) Laurie Ibbotson (Aug 27) Sandra Hayes (Aug 29) Laurel Burndred (Aug 15) Dee Mills (Aug 16) Des Walsh (Aug 20) Allan Osborne (Aug 22) John Mason (Aug 29) Margaret Humphris (Aug 31)

September Janette Huggett (Sept 2) Laurelle Walsh (Sept 3) Terry Dempster (Sept 4) Lora Cooper (Sept 10) Dianne Wiseman (Sept 13) Libby Jenson (Sept 15) Robert Smith (Sept 17) Bryce Dwyer (Sept 20) Warren Strange (Sept 24) Mick Middleton (Sept 24) June Black (Sept 25) Trish Wright (Sept 26) Cheryl Henry Sept 27)

August 6: Donna Gates, Division 1 Gold Coast Councilor, will be in attendance at The River Club.

August 12: Singalong event led by Libby. Bring along your drinks, nibbles and best singing voices!

August 26: Brunch. Put you name on the list, come on down and share in great food and great company during our regular Sunday breakfast.

September 28: Residents’ meeting. This will be held at 4pm at The River Club.

Community dining out: Check the noticeboard for dates and details of our upcoming dining out opportunities.

WHAT’S COMING UP AT UPPER COOMERA

CELEBRATE DAD ON SEPTEMBER 2

Listen up, dads! Father’s Day is coming up, which means dropping plenty of hints about that uninterrupted day on the golf course you’ve been daydreaming about or those new socks you’ve been eyeing off before September 2. Whether you’re a father or a father figure, this day is for you.

We’ve got it all here at Palm Lake Resort Upper Coomera!

Bingo, boat outings, lawn bowls, beach walks, line dancing, art group, stretch and balance classes, gentle exercise, yoga, tai chi, shopping trips, Happy hour! Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy any of these regular activities and events.

Safety first: Whilst using the resort facilities, please ensure that safety regulations are being followed. Keep exits clear and while using appliances that get hot, make sure they are placed somewhere safe and there are no trip hazards.

Art group: On Thursday mornings, come along and ask Angus about painting. With a history in teaching, you are sure to enjoy and learn more from this talented artistic man.

Alterations and additions: Plans for any alterations to the external part of your house must be submitted to the Caretakers before any work commences.

Recently, residents gathered at the River Club for a night of food and fun. First came the music trivia quiz, then the scrumptious hamburgers and then it was time for some karaoke. The evening was led by Libby, Jo and Janet with songs sung from various musical eras. Riverside residents stepped up to the mark and showed just how talented they are - they were not too shy in coming forward to sing their hearts out.

Graham gave an enthusiastic rendition of Jon Masefield’s “Sea Fever”, Ken bravely shared his debut by serenading his lovely wife Jo with “Love me Tender” and much fun was had by the group of women with their Riverside rendition of Abba’s “Waterloo”.

The karaoke night was a great success in many ways. It enabled participants to lose their inhibitions and have fun without feeling judged. There was much talent displayed during the night along with much laughter. Already the organisers have been asked when they can do it all again! Thanks to all who attended and helped make this night such a great success. Watch the noticeboard for the next one.

How beautiful is the Coomera River, especially viewed from our Palm Lake Resort boat? Our skipper on this day, Lea, did a great job navigating to the Coomera Tavern. It was a magnificent day and the river was very calm. This reflected in our passengers’ mood with all eight relaxed and enjoying the ambience. Al looked amazingly relaxed, languishing on the rear seats. Libby and Lois were decked out in scarves as they were expecting a breeze which didn’t eventuate. The others in the group (Barb, BB, Don, Barbara and Bob) all enjoyed the conversation and, of course, the lunch. If you haven’t taken this journey yet, we recommend you put your name down and give it a try. It is a wonderful outing.

Hamburgers, fun and song.

Just cruisin’

We welcome Keith & Sue who have recently moved into Villa 39.

Meet your neighbours.

Where did you grow up? Keith was born in Brisbane and moved to Sydney when he was 7 years old. He moved around until settling in East Ryde in the early 1960s. Sue lived in Sydney’s northern suburbs of Neutral Bay and Cremorne and settled in Eastwood for her high school years. What did you do for work? Keith joined the Department of Family Services (known as Child Welfare in the old days) in 1970 after a few odd jobs in the auto field and retail. He worked in Child Protection and Children in Care for going on 30 years. He moved from Sydney to Wollongong and finished with the department in Nowra on the south coast of NSW where he supervised all Child Protection Services and Disaster Welfare Emergency Services in the Shoalhaven area. Sue joined the Commonwealth Bank from school and continued with them until Keith & Sue purchased a Post Office licensed shop in the Penrith area in 1998 which they owned until 2006. Following their relocation to Queensland in 2010, Keith drove for a trucking business in Brisbane owned by his daughter until 2016 with Sue working at Target until 2017. What drew you to Palm Lake Resort? We spent some time looking at various lifestyle resorts but appreciated the smaller nature and layout of Palm Lake Resort Upper Coomera as well as its location close to our family. It did not hurt that we had friends in the resort who gave us a personal tour!What are your hobbies/interests? We have been committed caravaners for many years and appreciate the security of this resort when we are away in the van. Keith is keen to compete in the bowls group and we are looking forward to engaging in the resort social activities. Dream holiday destination? We would both like to visit Canada and Alaska and experience the Rocky Mountain Railway. We intend to continue using our caravan as much as possible over the coming years to enjoy all the exciting places that Australia has to offer. What makes you proud? Seeing how our two daughters have grown and are now raising their own beautiful children. They are both extraordinary women. Favourite inspirational quote? “If you are going to do something, do it right the first time.”

SENIORS WEEK IS HERE!

Queensland Seniors Week (August 18-26) provides opportunities to promote positive community attitudes towards older people and ageing, facilitate community participation and enhance community connections, aligning with the Queensland Government’s and Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland’s vision of building age-friendly

communities in Queensland. Seniors Week will connect communities, provide opportunities for people to share and learn new experiences, while helping seniors discover new local services and support. To find out what events are being held in our local area during Seniors Week, jump online and head to www.qldseniorsweek.org.au

Riverside design, $482,000This glorious Riverside design villa has a gourmet kitchen with curved benchtops leading to oversized living and dining with timber flooring throughout. There’s a walk-in robe which is fitted out in the master bedroom and a great-sized second bedroom and study. Double garage, ducted air and fresh paint make this home a winner indeed.

Enchanting Eucalyptus design villa, $478,000 One of the largest designs of all our villas, this Eucalyptus is dressed to impress. This property has two bedrooms plus study, two stylish bathrooms, galley-style chef’s kitchen with self-closing drawers, ducted air, solar, Crimsafe and two outdoor entertaining areas.

Amazing Acacia design, $439,000 This recently renovated Acacia villa has two bedrooms plus study, two luxurious bathrooms, double garage with plenty of built in storage.

Many other features including solar power, a sun-drenched front patio and fantastic covered alfresco area.

Wonderful Wattle design, $460,000This lovely villa has a huge master retreat with ensuite. It’s a two-bedroom plus study layout, with extra bathroom. There’s bamboo flooring in the living area, air conditioning, double garage and a covered alfresco entertaining deck that creates the relaxed atmosphere we all love.

Palm Lake Resort Upper Coomera

To find out more about life along the river, please phone Colleen on 1800 757 457 / 0414 925 013 or email colleenh@palmlake.com.au

Lose yourself in relaxation on one of the many beautiful walking tracks or beside the scenic adjacent Coomera River, here at Palm Lake Resort Upper Coomera.

WHAT’S ON

WHAT’S ON

INTERNATIONAL CAT DAY (AUGUST 8)

If you’re a dedicated ‘cat person’, you might want to mark August 8 in your calendar. On International Cat Day, our feline friends are celebrated for their ability to bring joy and relieve stress, so give your cat some extra attention or pick up a bag of treats for your friendly neighbourhood kitty.

DAFFODIL DAY (AUGUST 24)

Pretty much every Australian can think of someone whose lif have been changed forever by a cancer diagnosis. That’s why, this Daffodil Day, it’s more important than ever to join the thousands of Cancer Council volunteers raising lifesaving funds for cancer research, prevention and support.

DOLLED UP These dolls, pictured above, were donated by Mabs to various local care units to assist with therapy sessions for ladies with Alzheimer’s. The dolls are gathered from op shops then cleaned, sanitized and re-clothed. Such a kind act.

BLOODY SLOW, BUT EXCITING! Pictured left and below left are our other Bloody Slow Cup competitors in their official game colours. Read about the Cup on Page 1.

Around the grounds

BIGGEST MORNING TEA Another wonderful Biggest Morning Tea event was held recently with raffles drawn and some very happy winners including Dawn, Rhonda, Elaine and Kaye. Thanks to Barbara and Iris for assisting with the raffle.

BON VOYAGE JEAN Sharing a barbecue recently, pictured below, was the quilters’ group who gathered to say ‘Bon Voyage’ to Jean as she heads off on holiday to Japan to visit family. It was a great opportunity to eat, chat and socialise before the humming of the sewing machines started and the women got to work again on their quilts.

TURTLE TIMEWandering around the parking area by The River Club recently was this not so little turtle, pictured below! It appeared to be heading back to the pond/mangrove area after a spot of exploring.

at Upper Coomera

It was Gandhi who said, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” And it turns out, he was onto something – there are some real scientific benefits that come when you give up your time to help someone in need.

Believe it or not, humans are one of the most altruistic species in existence, which explains why so many of us give up our time to volunteer. Volunteering is a kind of ‘prosocial behaviour’ (ie. when you do something that benefits others, or society as a whole) and there are a bunch of evolutionary theories that suggest how this came to be – natural selection, for example, suggests that without helping others, even those who aren’t our kin, has benefited our survival as a species.

But why does it feel so good to do good to others, beyond just our basic instincts? Well, as Tania McMahon from Benchmark Psychology explains, there is a lot of research to suggest that prosocial behaviours are strongly linked to positive mood.

“In a well-known study at Harvard University, it was found that participants assigned to spend money on others experienced greater positive feelings than those assigned to spend money on themselves,” Tania explains. “The relationship is self-reinforcing as well – helping others makes you feel good, but feeling good also makes you want to help others more.”

Research also shows that prosocial behaviours like volunteering can have a positive impact on self-esteem, life satisfaction and our overall mental health. A number of current psychological therapies focus on helping clients take action to pursue activities that align with their own personal values, to help improve their wellbeing and help them live a more rich and meaningful life.

“Volunteering provides a unique opportunity to connect with one’s values, no matter what they might be,” Tania says.

“For example, someone who values music and the arts might volunteer at a community theatre; someone who values nutrition and healthy food might volunteer in a kitchen providing food for the homeless; someone who values social connection and helping others might volunteer as a mentor for a youth group.”

So, it seems that when you volunteer, you don’t just do good unto others – you do yourself some good, too.

GoVolunteer is an initiative of Volunteering Australia. The website’s aim is to match people who are interested in volunteering with appropriate volunteering opportunities in their local community. It uses a national database of volunteering opportunities. For more, jump online and visit www.govolunteer.com.au

WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER?

It’s nice to be nice

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

10am Gentle

Exercise

7am Aqua

Aerobics

7am Beach Walk

8.30am Bowls

9am Art Group

8am/9am Tai Chi & Yoga

8.30am Bowls

1pm Craft Group

8.30am Bowls

9am Line Dancing

12.30pm Tenpin

Bowling

1pm Mah-jong

9am Shopping Bus

8.30am Garden Club

2pm Bingo

12.30pm 500 Club

12 noon Quilting

2pm Movies

4.30pm Tennis

2pm Table Tennis

5pm Happy Hour

6.45pm 500 Crowns

3.30pm Stretch

& Balance

Mocha hazlenut fudge.

Ingredients 1 cup hazelnuts250g cream cheese2 cups icing sugar3 teasp instant coffee powder (diluted with 1 teasp water)250g dark chocolate (melted)

Method Roast nuts. Remove skin and chop roughly. In a food processor, mix remaining ingredients and stir in nuts. Place in well-greased and lined tin. Refrigerate.

Recipe courtesy of Palm Lake Resort Ballina chef Julie Gilmore

Ingredients

2 cups almond milk ¼ teaspoon ground dried turmeric (plus more for serving) 2cm fresh ginger, peeled, thinly sliced Pinch of ground cinnamon 2 teaspoons coconut oil 1 tablespoon honey

Golden latte.Method

Heat all ingredients together in a small saucepan over medium heat until just simmering. Cover, reduce heat and simmer for five minutes. Remove from heat, strain and discard solids. Whisk, while warm, until frothy or serve chilled over ice. Sprinkle with ground turmeric before serving.