Meet the residents of Abervale
Meet the amazing people that make Abervale such an extraordinary place to retire.
Whether it’s Nance, a 103-year-old resident who has always led an independent life and continues to thrive at Abervale, or Jo and Roan, who moved to the village after more than 40 years on the farm and couldn’t be happier — each story reflects the warmth and fulfilment found in this community.
103 years and counting
Meet 103 year old Nance, who has been been living at the retirement village for more than 25 years. Always an independent person, Nance used to own a caravan park down at Torquay along the Great Ocean Road and operated a petrol station which was a three generation business. It was a pure coincidence that got Nance interested in Abervale. She was on her way home from line dancing when she took a wrong turn and saw the sign for Abervale. She decided to go in and have a look. ‘I parked out the front and came in and they had happy hour. They were dancing and drinking Sherry,’ she reflects.
As Nance walked up to the noticeboard to have a look, a resident approached her. ‘She was asking if I was thinking of coming here and I said I am thinking about it. And she replied ‘Come in now, don’t get any older, you are old enough’. So I did and it was the best choice I have made because I could be independent and still live my life.’
Not even a rainstorm can stop her
It wasn’t just dancing and happy hour that convinced Nance to move to Abervale all those years ago. ‘The staff are just wonderful,’ she says. ‘When COVID happened, for everybody it was a bad time. But with all that happening, the staff here had just covered every aspect. I have been very lucky to have the last quarter of my life here.’
‘I have been very lucky to have the last quarter of my life here.’
But this dedication goes both ways.
When the village was hit with a rainstorm in the middle of the night, the village staff hurried in to help, only to find Nance standing in the garden outside her house and cleaning the drains.
The village staff were pulling an all nighter to clear blockages and prevent any further damage. After seeing one of them in draining wet clothes, Nance dove into her closet and put out a nice warm pyjamas for the workers to help them get a good night's rest in a dry set of clothes. That’s the kind of person Nance is,’ says a village staff.
A fulfilling community life
After living for more than four decades on their farm at Teasdale and in a unit closer to town, Joan and Ron made the move to Abervale. And they’re grateful every day for their decision to join this thriving retirement community.
‘There’s a sense of belonging in Abervale that we never experienced when we lived on our own.’
At Abervale, Joan and Ron have access to amenities including an indoor heated pool, gym, library and a competition standard bowling green. While the resort-style amenities were enticing enough, they say it's the community life that’s been positively life-changing.
There’s always something happening
‘We thrive on being involved in the social life at Abervale. There's always something happening here. We love the mystery lunch outings on the village bus, the fish and chip nights at the community centre, the afternoon happy hour and dancing in the hall. We have so many friends now. There's always someone to have a chat and cuppa with,’ Joan says.
‘There's a sense of belonging in Abervale that we never experienced when we lived on our own. The community has become a fulfilling aspect of our lives. Knowing we're always surrounded by friends and that we look out for each other has brought us true peace of mind,’ she says.
For Ron, the bowling green has brought much meaning for him post-retirement. As president of the Abervale bowls committee, Ron has seen first-hand the benefits of discovering new passions. He enjoys coaching newcomers, including a 90-year-old resident proving it’s never too late to master a new skill.
We would have moved in sooner
When they're not on village excursions, catching up with friends or playing bowls, Ron and Joan find joy in the simple pleasures at Abervale. Joan enjoys visiting fashion groups that bring their pop-up boutiques to the village. Ron and Joan also grow vegetables in Abervale's community vegetable patch, sharing surplus produce with the community. They also proudly tend to their own vast garden.
‘Farm life was rewarding but Abervale is on a whole other level since we retired. We have so much space here, a wonderful social life and a great sense of security. Knowing we can go on holidays without worrying about the house is such a relief. If I could do only one thing differently, it would have been to move to Abervale sooner,’ Joan says.
