Page 47 - The Gem | August 2024 Magazine

Resort pioneers love to help others

GEMLIFE PACIFIC PARADISE’S FIRST-EVER RESIDENTS, TONY AND RITA HARNETT, LAUGH ABOUT
BEING KNOWN AS THE RESORT’S PIONEERS BUT, AS SUCH, THEY ALSO PLAYED AN IMPORTANT
ROLE IN SETTING UP THE COMMUNITY.

The couple, who lived in Canberra for 44 years
before moving to Queensland in 2005, moved
into the over-50s lifestyle resort on 29 June in
2020. One of their first community activities
was to form the GemLife Pacific Paradise Home
Owners’ Committee (HOC).

“I wrote the constitution and got it incorporated
and ran it for the first year to get it up and going,”
said Tony.

Tony and Rita then turned their attention to
recycling bottles and cans to raise money for
the HOC, a task they did for two-and-a-half
years, which helped boost the HOC’s coffers by
over $9000.
“That’s about 900,000 cans and bottles that
we and the team of residents who helped us
collected for the cause. The money, in turn,
assists the HOC in running events, contributing
to other things that help our local community,”
said Tony.
In addition, Tony, along with Greg Blunden who
writes the resort’s monthly newsletter, also put
their hands up to clean and service the resident
coffee machine once a week.

“We’ve been doing it for four years now. It only
takes half an hour and really helps everyone who
enjoys a cup of coffee.”
St Vincent de Paul at
Volunteering to help others has become a way of Maroochydore also
life for Tony and Rita who were this year awarded
with 15-years of service badges and certificates runs regular barbecues
for their dedicated work with St Vincent De Paul. to raise money for the
charity, an initiative
“We initially became involved through a Tony introduced in 2011. He also served as vice
friend who asked if we would be interested in president from 2012 to 2014.
joining. I had been retired five years when the
opportunity came along and both Rita and I Tony and Rita, who have three children and seven
jumped at the chance to help,” said Tony. grandchildren, applaud all volunteers, saying the
country couldn’t operate without them.
Both work in the St Vincent De Paul
Maroochydore office with Tony involved mostly “They help with so many things – kids’ reading
in data input while Rita conducts interviews with at schools, events, charities and so much more.
those in need, in conjunction with the Church of We’d encourage others to volunteer; it is so
Good Shepherd. worthwhile. We love making a difference.”

46 The Gem GemLife.com.au AUGUST 2024 47