GEMLIFE MAROOCHY QUAYS RESIDENT, EXERCISE ENTHUSIAST AND ‘MOTHER’ TO HER NATIVE BEES, KATHLEEN SMITH, HAS EMBRACED HER LOVE OF EXERCISE AND FOUND HER ZEN SINCE MOVING IN.
Kath is full of energy and has a vibrant personality and charisma to match. Although she’s only been a Maroochy Quays resident for a short time, she already has a full schedule to help keep her happy, active, and balanced in life. She says GemLife’s exercise classes held at the Country Club have been wonderful for her fitness.
“I do Zumba two to three times a week and don’t miss a class, and today I am already up to 13,500 steps on my fitness app, so I’m racking up the last of my steps picking up leaves in my back yard,” said Kath.
“I also go to water aerobics on Monday mornings, and Zumba on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. I was going to the gym regularly but found myself so busy that I’ve had to reduce my gym sessions to one a week.”
But that’s not all Kath gets up to. She is also a loving ‘mother’ to Australian native stingless bees. Providing them with what they need makes them happy, which makes her happy in return. “Because my bees are Australian natives, they are stingless and mainly help propagate fruit and vegetables,” she said.
“They do make honey, but I haven’t harvested any as my bees are more like pets. Besides, they can live off their honey in the winter when flowers for propagation are scarce.”
Another passion Kath has discovered is playing cards, especially Ponytail Canasta, part of the Rummy family of games.
“I love to play Pony Canasta with the friends I have met here. We get together and have a blast playing all sorts of weekly games, but Pony Canasta would have to be my favourite,” she says.
But Kath has one more card trick up her sleeve. She has a knack for mixing cocktails and even volunteers at the Country Club bar.
“I got my RSA for bartending which I do at the Country Club every Sunday,” she said. “I love to keep busy and active, so I find ways of being able to fit it all in, even choosing my corner block with extra walking in mind as it’s the furthest from the entryway and Country Club.
“My friends and family are gobsmacked when they see all the things I get up to. They all agree I’ve made the right decision to make GemLife Maroochy Quays my home.”
So, what’s Kath’s advice to other residents who want to be inspired to get more active?
“Make the best of every day and don’t waste even one minute of it,” she says.
“Make your moments count.”