Meet the residents of Bellflower Retirement Resort
Meet the people that make Bellflower Retirement Resort such an extraordinary place to retire.
For Bellflower Retirement Resort resident David, retirement wasn’t about slowing down—it was about digging into something new. After a career spent behind a desk and a redundancy that prompted a fresh start, David and his wife moved just across the road into Bellflower Retirement Resort. What began as a simple relocation soon blossomed into a thriving new chapter, thanks to a neighbour’s invitation to join the village gardening group. With little experience but plenty of enthusiasm, David found himself not only growing vegetables but cultivating a renewed sense of purpose, connection and joy.
Gardening gave David a new lease on life
David and his wife made the move to Bellflower eight years ago, from just down the road. “It was a shopping trolley move, really,” David laughs. Instigated by his redundancy, the couple circumnavigated the Sunshine Coast to take a closer look at retirement villages in the area, but it was the one around the corner that ticked all their boxes. “We lived across the road and knew the environment — we used to walk through to get to the shops — so this one stood out far and above,” David says.
After settling into their unit, the pair started joining groups and building their community. It was then that a friendly resident asked David the question that would ultimately lead to the discovery of a new passion. “One of my neighbours was the president of the gardening group at the time and I just got asked the question, ‘Do you want to come down and join us?’ And so, I did!”
Aside from mowing lawns and trimming trees, David’s gardening experience was limited but that didn’t stop things escalating quickly. Old rotten timber beds were replaced and with the help of all the residents and their donations the area grew. Fast-forward to now and David is the unofficial gardening guru of Bellflower, looking after the resort’s community garden — much to the appreciation of his fellow residents. “Let’s say, I know about 50 people in this resort to say hello to by name, but 700 people know Dave,” he laughs.
After 50 years sitting at a computer and working in HR and admin sales, David relishes the opportunity to be outdoors and staying active. “Being a person that can’t sit still and TV is of no interest to me, I had to find something to do. So gardening fills in that niche,” he says.
Tucked down the back of the village, the community garden is now home to about 18 beds, which are blossoming with herbs, seasonal vegetables and greens. Residents are invited to stroll through the garden, pick what they need and leave a donation. Or, as many of the locals can’t manage the walk, there’s also a fridge at the community centre that is stocked with freshly picked produce. “Most of what we put in there goes within 24 hours,” David says.
With his natural green thumb, David has taken the lead in tending the village garden—and he’s thriving in the role. He’s down there most days, happily nurturing the plants and expanding his gardening know-how as he goes. “It’s all about persevering, nurturing and giving things a go. Nothing happens quickly,” David says.
For residents joining Keyton’s retirement villages, David suggests taking advantage of the wide range of groups, activities, experiences and facilities on offer to help unlock a hidden passion or purpose. “Keep your mind rolling on something,” he says.
With a desire to join Keyton’s 100 club, David has no plans on slowing down. In fact, he’s just getting started — next up, he’s mastering the art of growing tomatoes and finding a way to keep those pesky swamp hens at bay. “You might as well say there’s no such thing as retire… what’s that big word again?” laughs David.
