Mother and daughter find fun at Caboolture
When Kerry McDougall saw how much fun her mum and dad were having at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront, her husband asked why they had to wait to join them.
Georgina and David Bailey moved into Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront in February 2021 and Kerry and Roy moved in four months later.
“It was actually my husband’s idea,” said Kerry. “We all lived on acreage properties around Elimbah, and we noticed that the work was getting to be a bit much for my parents, so we suggested downsizing.
“We’ve always been very close, and I didn’t want to be too far away from Mum and Dad, so when we found Living Gems, we were so impressed by everything that was there. The homes were lovely, and the Country Club was impressive.
“My husband said, ‘well, we like the place and we’re considering making a similar kind of move ourselves in five to seven years’ time, so why wait? Let’s move in too’.”
And that’s what they did with homes just a couple of streets away from each other in the resort.
“We regularly go out together to the beach at Bribie to go fishing,” said Georgina.
“Well, our husbands go fishing, we just come along and bring books to read,” added Kerry. “And even then, the boys don’t catch anything.”
“Oh, don’t say that!” interrupts Georgina with a laugh. “No, no, they always catch fish and they’re always big ones too.”
Mother and daughter’s comedic flare has found full expression at the resort, where they are part of the performing arts group.
“We always wanted to be on the stage. We’re natural performers but before we came to Living Gems, we never dreamed we’d be part of a show performing in front of hundreds of people,” said Georgina.
“And it doesn’t matter if we forget our lines. Because we’re performing in front of friends, we all just stop and have a laugh.”
Both couples have their own homes which means they have their own space to relax too.
“The lifestyle at Living Gems suits us down to the ground,” said Georgina. “Although we do spend a lot of time together, we’re not in each other’s pockets.
“We get together for some events, but we do have our own friends at the resort and we’ll do our own things with them.”
Kerry and Roy have two children and three grandchildren who they see regularly with Kerry on hand to assist during the school holidays. With extended family in the UK, the ability to lock-up-and-leave knowing their homes are safe in a gated community and with great neighbours keeping an eye out is a bonus.
“Since we moved to Australia in 2005, mum and dad have been back a few times, in fact they spent last Christmas in England and, a couple of years ago, they went for four months to attend a grandson’s wedding.”
Kerry’s brother came out from the UK to visit recently, and he was impressed by the lifestyle at Living Gems Caboolture Riverfront.
“He came to check in on Mum and Dad and to see what kind of place they moved into, and he was amazed. He couldn’t believe it,” said Kerry.
“He said he wished that there was something like this for his mother- and father-in-law to move to. They simply don’t have anything like this at all in England.”
