MOVING INTO A NEW OVER-50S LIFESTYLE RESORT IN THE EARLY STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT AND WATCHING IT GROW INTO A THRIVING COMMUNITY OF THE FUTURE IS AN EXPERIENCE GEMLIFE PALMWOODS HOMEOWNERS FRANK AND DENISE RYDER ARE REVELLING IN.
“We feel so privileged to be witnessing the growth before our eyes and are so looking forward to what lies ahead,” said Denise.
The couple, who are among the resort’s first arrivals, moved into their beautiful new home in September. They have already had a taste of the GemLife lifestyle and the regale surrounding each major milestone reached including the official opening of the resort’s new summer house.
“GemLife always goes all out and the catering for the opening was nothing less than first class, as was the amazing summer house and its fabulous facilities,” Denise said.
The Ryders admit they were more surprised than anyone to be feeling the way they do now about living in an over-50s lifestyle resort.
For the past eleven years they have lived on an acreage property at Blackbutt which, until being diagnosed with a heart condition, Frank maintained meticulously.
“He was so fussy about keeping our place lovely and loved his gardening, trimming the lawns almost with scissor-like precision,” said Denise, who admitted the thought of downsizing caused great concern at first because they had only ever lived in two big homes – 40 years in Everton and then Blackbutt.
However, once they visited GemLife Palmwoods it was love at first sight. They sold their Blackbutt home immediately and haven’t looked back since.
“We love everything about the resort and having been avid campers and bushwalkers all of our 53 years of married life, we couldn’t have found a more perfect location in the beautiful Sunshine Coast hinterland for our daily walks. We are also so close to many of our favourite bushwalking locations such as Maleny, Montville and Mapleton,” said Denise.
The couple, who have two sons, three grandsons and one great granddaughter, say they also love their new, quality-built home in which they are transforming the multipurpose room into a home-based library to facilitate Denise’s passion for reading.
“The home is so spacious – something we weren’t expecting but are so delighted with and I have even created my own Zen corner in our back garden with a little Buddha and potted herb and tomato plants strategically placed around it, “ said Denise.
Frank remains a keen gardener/landscaper and is eager to get involved in the resort’s planned community garden.
“There is so much to enjoy right now and even more to look forward to in the future, including the multi-million-dollar country club which is going to bring this whole community together with all its fabulous facilities,” said Denise excitedly.
Denise and Frank said they would never have expected to be settling in such a beautiful resort as GemLife Palmwoods.
“This was the perfect decision for us, and we love seeing and welcoming new people as they arrive. It is surprising how many have come from acreage like us. We expected it to be a difficult transition but were very pleasantly surprised and are so excited about what the future holds.”