Meet the residents of Bernborough Ascot
Get to know the wonderful people who make Bernborough Ascot such a warm and welcoming place to call home.
It’s not just the amazing views over Doomben Racecourse and the city skyline that make Bernborough Ascot such a special place to live, it’s also the people who call it home.
For best friends Toni and Barb, beyond their spacious homes, it’s the joy of seeing their boys visit and enjoy the place just as much as they do. Jo found the perfect downsizing option just around the corner from her old home and loves that she still gets to enjoy the area she knows so well. And for Janis and Peter, it’s not just the friendly community, it’s also the convenience of being close to everything they need, especially their children.
Best friends Toni and Barb share the joy of community living
"I feel like I'm on a permanent holiday," Barb remarks, and Toni agrees "I feel exactly the same."
Meet best friends Toni, a registered nurse and midwife, and Barb, a hairdresser. Their paths may seem different, but fate brought them together as neighbours for an incredible 37 years. Both raising children of the same age, their lives were intertwined in ways they could never have imagined. Their story takes a remarkable turn when Barb decided to visit Bernborough Ascot. The apartment and community captured her heart, so they both made the decision to move in.
Toni and Barb can't stop gushing about their new homes. The spacious rooms, the soaring ceilings and the breathtaking views – these are just a few of the things that make their place truly exceptional. With 8 children and 14 grandchildren, it was also important to Barb to find a place her family would enjoy visiting as well and she has found that here. "Even the 18 year olds love visiting. One of my grandson’s came over with his friends one afternoon and hung out on my balcony, overlooking the races that were on. We had pizzas and nibblies. They were so grateful and really enjoyed themselves."
They've made countless new friends, so much so that they can confidently say that nearly everyone in their building is a good friend. Barb's favourite part about living at Bernborough Ascot is the full calendar of resident run social activities, "There is always something going on. Along with my own outside activities and travel adventures, I’m also involved in some of the onsite wellbeing programs and resident activities. These include fitness and cooking classes as well as regular trivia sessions and of course, happy hour."
They both share the sentiment that they're living a dream, a perpetual vacation right at home. The realisation that they're lucky to be living in such a wonderful place dawns on them every day. Their message to anyone thinking of coming to Bernborough Ascot is simple, “Don't think twice, just do it!”
Jo loves the spectacular city views
"After touring Bernborough Ascot, my husband and I fell in love with the spectacular city views, the proximity to the Doomben racetrack and the beautiful mountain vistas."
As Jo and her husband Bluey grew older in their beloved home, the ongoing maintenance started to become too difficult for them to manage. They were looking to downsize but didn't want to move far from the location they had grown so fond of, with public transport so close by and a great range of local amenities. That's when they discovered Bernborough Ascot.
"After touring Bernborough Ascot, my husband and I fell in love with the spectacular city views, the proximity to the Doomben racetrack and the beautiful mountain vistas. The village is only two minutes from our old house, so it suited us perfectly!", Jo says.
Jo spends time socialising and getting involved in many activities in the community
Since moving into the community shortly after it opened in late 2020, the couple has been busy socialising with their fellow residents and getting involved in many activities within the community. Jo puts her skills as a massage therapist to work a few days a week at Brisbane Racing Club, working closely with the jockeys. The couple also attend weekly billiard competitions at the community, where residents share dishes of food and partake in friendly games of snooker.
Janis and Peter are close to everything they need
“We knew that moving into Bernborough would allow us to do more of what we enjoy."
For Janis and Peter, a tight knit community, connection and building strong friendships has created the foundations for a golden retirement at Bernborough Ascot. Having been integral to the community fabric of Brisbane's northern suburbs for decades, the couple aimed to remain in the region that provided their family with immense happiness and security.
With three sons, Adrian, Matthew and Dean, Janis and Peter previously resided in Banyo, Deagon and Boondall, before eventually settling in Clayfield. “We’ve always loved the area and to be honest, we did think about moving further away but everything we need is here, so we thought why don’t we stay close to what’s important,” Peter says. The couple’s decision to consider Bernborough Ascot came about as they were thinking about what they wanted their lifestyle to look like.
Janis and Peter still relish the convenience of the location, being close to family and living in a warm and friendly community
Both Janis and Peter knew that they were spending a lot of time tending to their family home and that it had become too big for them both. “We knew that moving into Bernborough Ascot would allow us to do more of what we enjoy and also to meet people that have similar interests to us. We have loved it. We have met and made some wonderful friends with the residents here and we’re still close to all the things we adore about living in this part of Brisbane,” Janis says.
Janis and Peter still relish the convenience of the location, being close to family and more importantly that happiness derived from living in a warm and friendly community. “It’s a short drive to Banyo when we want to visit Adrian and Angela with their kids; Madeleine, William and Henry or we can head out to Toowoomba to see Matthew and Julia and our other grandchildren Xavier and Ethan… and if we want to go and visit Dean who lives in London, well we’re not too far away from the airport.”
Janice and Don love the convenient location of the village
“We love how centrally located Bernborough Ascot is to the river, city and airport.”
Janice and her husband Don decided to move to the village after being drawn to the idea of modern, contemporary apartment living and the convenience of being close to transport and the city. “We love how centrally located Bernborough Ascot is to the river, city and airport,” Janice shares. What used to be a car journey has now become a leisurely five minute stroll to the nearby bus stop. Just 25 minutes later, she’s in the heart of the city, enjoying performances at her favourite venue, QPAC. “Sometimes I walk down to the river and catch the CityCat ferry,” she adds. “It’s such a scenic and easy way to get into the city.”
Janice and her husband Don love how centrally located Bernborough Ascot is to the river, city and airport
Bernborough Ascot is just a 10 minute drive from the airport, making trips to visit family a breeze. Residents also enjoy access to a community bus, which adds another layer of ease to everyday life.
“Some of the residents organise group outings, it’s great to have that option for a social get-together,” Janice shares. Just around the corner is the racecourse village shopping centre, where Janice does her regular supermarket shopping. "It’s not only handy but also offers a range of other stores and professional services, making errands simple and stress-free. Moving here was a great choice. When the time comes that we decide to sell the cars, it won’t impact us, given all the options available.”
