Mountain View Leongatha resident, Claire speaks about her life, lived without regret and the warmth she and husband, Peter, have experienced since becoming part of a boutique over 55’s community in South Gippsland, Victoria.
In retirement it was our turn, our time to enjoy our hobbies and spending quality time with each other, exploring the richness of the surrounding area. My life has been an interesting, varied, wonderful journey and our retirement together has brought us closer.
Growing up on a sheep farm in rural Victoria, one of 6 siblings, Claire enjoyed riding horses, playing tennis, net ball, the piano and exhibited an outgoing athletic disposition. Her zest for life forged a longing to become a physical education teacher. However, she chose a more conservative path training to be a nurse. At sixteen, her life changed dramatically, when her family home burnt to the ground and she relocated to Melbourne, where Claire went to live with her aunt in Hawthorn.
Claire trained as a nurse at the Mercy Hospital. Later her career evolved into practice manager for a private doctor’s practice. During this time she met and married Peter and their family grew with the births of their 5 children. Claire continued to juggle motherhood with a full time work.
Peter worked for 8 years as a regional bank manager all over Victoria, returning home at weekends often exhausted from 4 or 5 hour driving, so that he could spend weekends with Claire and the children. Unfazed by these challenges, Claire developed her skills playing golf and tennis. They bought a lovely home and then eventually retired. “We had a very full life enjoying sport and the theatre and we had great neighbours and friends. We had a large home, a beautiful but time consuming garden. Our growing brood of grandchildren. I started to yearn for the peace of country living again. In the end I saw an advertisement in a local paper for Mountain View Leongatha and persuaded Peter to take a trip with me one day to visit. The picturesque views of the surrounding Strzelecki Hills, the quality décor of the villas and residents facilities; we were both overwhelmed with a sense of how right this move would be for us. We swiftly placed a $1000 deposit on our new home, embracing the prospect of an easier, low maintenance, affordable lifestyle!
Yes the move involved moving away from our friends and family, but ultimately it’s created stronger friendships and new interests. At Mountain View, family and friends are encouraged to stay with us. The kids and grandchildren all enjoy the heated pool, spacious BBQ al fresco area, as well as billiards, table tennis and an extensive library.
When one of you becomes unwell you tend to take stock. We needed more quality time together in a way only people who have been through serious illness can appreciate. You do renegotiate your friendships. Our partnership and enjoying our time with each other, that’s our primary focus. I still watch over my children and their children with a protectiveness that strengthens over the years, it doesn’t diminish as they grow up!
Part of our decision to move here lay in the added security of a gated community where someone else worried about the maintenance for us. Staff and fellow residents provide an extended support network. It’s a community as they used to be, you know your neighbours and everyone tends to look out for each other. We share home baked treats, regular BBQ’s and there is companionship if you need it. The first morning I woke up here, I knew we had made the right decision. It is just so comfortable. We have the beach 25 minutes away, birds and surrounding countryside, a wonderful new home. Easy access to public transport and Melbourne are there if we need it. We are free to travel. We simply just lock the door and everything is looked after for us. We are lucky, life is good and we’ve found our escape to the country. Mountain View Leongatha is by far the best choice we’ve ever made.
Mountain View Leongatha resident, *Lois, speaks about the warmth she and husband, *Duncan, have experienced since becoming part of a boutique over 55’s community in South Gippsland, Victoria.
“In retirement it was our turn, our time to enjoy our hobbies and spending quality time with each other, exploring the richness of the surrounding area. My life has been an interesting, varied, wonderful journey and our retirement together has brought us closer.
We had a large home in Mount Martha and a beautiful but time consuming garden. I started to yearn for the peace of country living. I saw an ad in a local paper for Mountain View Leongatha and we decided to take a trip to visit. Once we experienced the picturesque views of the surrounding Strzelecki Hills, the quality décor of villas and residents facilities we were both overwhelmed with a sense of how right this move would be for us.
At Mountain View, family and friends are encouraged to stay with us. The grandchildren all enjoy the heated pool, spacious BBQ al fresco area, Bowling Green, as well as billiards, table tennis and library.
Part of our decision to move here was the added security of a gated community and fellow residents to provide an extended support network. It’s a community as they used to be, your neighbours tend to look out for each other. We share home baked treats, regular BBQ’s and companionship.
Easy access to public transport and Melbourne are minutes away. We are free to travel. We simply lock the door and everything is looked after. We‘ve found our escape to the country. Mountain View Leongatha is by far the best choice we’ve ever made.”