Rediscovering purpose: Inspiring stories from Keyton residents across Queensland

Marilyn revives her passion in retirement

From the UK to the leafy grounds of Hibiscus Buderim Meadows, it didn’t take long for resident Marilyn to re-ignite old passions. Welcomed into the close-knit community, Marilyn dove into the activities on offer, joining both the resident-run aquarobics and exercise classes. 

Not long after, the health of the instructor who ran the classes deteriorated and she was no longer able to lead the program, creating an opportunity for Marilyn to step in. 

"In the UK, I was active and physical, running lots of clubs for school children when I was teaching," Marilyn says. “So, I thought, well, I've got the qualifications, why not try it myself?”

Marilyn’s enthusiasm for wellness combined with her fitness knowledge made her classes a hit! Residents began flocking to the sessions, giving Marilyn a renewed sense of purpose and zest for life in retirement. 

“Our lives have been so enriched with living here in Buderim Meadows; a special place to be," Marilyn says. 

Keyton residents embrace wellbeing 

And Marilyn is not alone. Many Keyton residents across Queensland are taking retirement in their stride, using their newfound freedom to implement lifestyle habits and pursue passions that are having an overall positive effect on their health and wellbeing. 

From gentle exercise classes and indoor bowls to film sessions and craft club, there are daily opportunities to discover new activities and build friendships.

Keyton CEO Nathan Cockerill says retirement village living really does bring out the best in people. “The environment encourages wellbeing, connection and community, no matter how the residents choose to spend their time.” 

Susan sparked a café culture at Buderim Gardens

For Buderim Gardens resident Susan, the idea of moving into a retirement village was a little nerve-wracking. With a career filled with 80 hour weeks, Susan knew she would need to find something to occupy her time. “I didn’t really quite accept retirement easily,” Susan says. “There just wasn’t enough in my day after having challenging roles in the past.”

After moving to Buderim Gardens and joining the resident committee as chairperson, Susan was asked if she could think of ways to bring residents into the brand new community centre. That’s when the idea for a café originated. With the help of other committee members and some funding to purchase equipment, the Rumours Café was born - and Susan stepped into the role of manager. 

“When we first started it nearly killed us in the first month and we thought ‘how are we going to do this?’” Susan says. “We’d hardly be able to walk out of there, being so sore at the end of the day. And now we sort of just laugh, because we’re obviously so much fitter.” More than three years later, the onsite café now serves between 50 to 70 people a day, three days a week and is run by a roster of about 20 volunteer residents, some who are over the age of 80.

“It gives me another sense of purpose in life and I get great pleasure out of seeing residents and their friends and people from other Keyton villages coming in and enjoying the café,” she says. “That is a huge reward for me personally, but it’s also a huge reward for every single one of us who works in there.”

Dishing up good music, smooth coffee, delicious homemade goods, warm lunches and a must-book high tea, Rumours is a hive of social activity both in and out of the kitchen. “The social side of it for our volunteers is the main thing that keeps them here,” Susan says. 

Whilst Susan no longer works in the café, unless a shift needs to be filled, she still makes it her mission to ensure the vibe is high and the volunteers are content. “I go down every morning and make sure everyone’s happy and looking forward to the day,” she says. 

Having played a part in creating such a loved space and so clearly finding a purpose in her latest chapter, Susan is thriving in her retirement and wants others to do the same. “You’ve got to embrace community and decide what it is that turns you on. It might not be cards or aquarobics, but there will be something,” Susan says. 

Gardening gave David a new lease on life

That 'something' was unexpected for Bellflower Retirement Resort resident David. 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. 

For more information about the lifestyle and support offered at our retirement villages, call our customer service team on 1800 550 550 or send us an email here.

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