How one retirees perspective changed in retirement living

Moving into a retirement village was not on Colin’s bingo card but alas, the idea pitched by his wife, Sandra, soon became his reality.  

Today, Colin can’t imagine living anywhere else. 

“I had no thoughts whatsoever of coming into a retirement village and, like many people, I already had my own home and that was my castle that I had built up over many years of work,” he says. “I guess I was pretty much the same.” 

But it was Sandra who managed to change Colin’s mind. 

"My parents moved into Anglicare’s Mowll Village (in Castle Hill), and they had a very positive experience there, Anglicare stepped up and helped them when they needed and that left a good impression on me,” Sandra says. 

“So I’d talked to Colin about it and thought that this could be something we could do one day but at that point, there was no urgency.” 

Fast forward a few years later, the couple found themselves viewing a display villa at Anglicare’s Glenhaven Green retirement village and put a downpayment on that exact property. 

“I walked into this villa and thought, ‘we could live here, we’ll take this one’,” Colin says. “The sales lady almost did a back flip and told us it was the display villa, but I knew this was the one. 

“So we sold our home and moved right in.” 

And they wasted no time getting to know their neighbours. 

“We met and got to know everybody very quickly and at the time, it was much smaller (the village),” Sandra says. 

“Our key phrase moving here was and still is to being pragmatic and there were 50 villas when we moved here first, and about 70 people. Within a month of moving in, we went to happy hour drinks, met for dinners and met like-minded people at the same stage in life,” Colin adds. 

“We're got to do everything routinely. We’re here now, we’re settled, and we have our own friends and so on. Life is easy now.” 

Life at Glenhaven Green sounds idyllic for the couple, who, even in retirement, find plenty to keep them active and engaged. 

Each morning, they start their day with a coffee date at the onsite café before heading off on their individual adventures. Sandra immerses herself in various arts and crafts activities, from quilting and painting to attending fortnightly bobbin lace-making classes.  

Meanwhile, Colin stays active as a volunteer maintenance and emergency coordinator, and he also drives the community bus for off-site activities, ensuring residents can enjoy outings with ease. 

“We've got no regrets about moving here at all,” Colin says. “This is our house, our home. This is where we belong. 

“Moving here was like having a fresh phase of life. We could enjoy this new home and all the amenities and make it our own.” 

Glenhaven Green, in Sydney’s Hill’s District, is a cherished community at Anglicare where residents are able to truly flourish.