TRAVEL ENTHUSIASTS BRONWYN AND ALAN JAMES ARE PLANNING TO CONTINUE THEIR PASSION FOR HITTING THE ROAD TO AUSTRALIA’S MANY FASCINATING OUTBACK TOWNS AND LOCATIONS AS OFTEN AS POSSIBLE IN RETIREMENT, WHICH PROMPTED THEIR DECISION TO BUY A BRAND-NEW HOME AT GEMLIFE WOODEND OVER-50S LIFESTYLE RESORT.
“GemLife Woodend is a gated community, and we know everything will be safe and secure when we go travelling, which we are planning to do for three to four months each year,” said Bronwyn.
The couple, who are both turning 70 this year and will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in 2023, have been on an extended roadtrip that took them from Victoria, along the coast of Western Australia and back again, via the famous wineries of the Barossa Valley.
“We went for six months and thought we would visit our son in WA while we awaited the completion of our new home, which we expect to move into this month. It’s all been so exciting!”
Bronwyn said there were many highlights on the trip including the national parks and beaches at Esperance and Albany, visits to Port Headland, Coral Bay, Geraldton, farm stays in Port Gregory and, as wine buffs with an estimated stock of 30 dozen bottles of wine in their cellar, the country’s top wineries in Western Australia and South Australia proved a temptation too good to miss.
“We also met some fascinating people including a fellow at Paraburdoo who was from the GemLife Bribie Island resort in Queensland.”
Having spent the past 35 years as beef cattle farmers living in a circa-1860s home on a large property close to Woodend, Alan and Bronwyn say they are ready to say goodbye to ongoing maintenance and upkeep and downsize into a new home and carefree lifestyle that lets them pursue their love for travel and the finer things in life.
Don’t be surprised if they pop the cork on their rare 1973 bottle of Penfolds Grange Hermitage one day soon to celebrate!