Everyone laughed at silly cracker jokes and raised glasses of mulled wine to toast what turned out to be a thoroughly festive “Christmas” in July in Tasmania recently. 

Uniting AgeWell Aldersgate Retirement Village residents gathered in the community hall at the Newnham site to get down to the serious business of having good fun in the middle of an icy Tasmanian winter. 

There were venison and duck sausages, pork and lamb chops, beef burgers, oyster Kilpatrick and prawn skewers with delightful desserts in an Aussie-inspired Christmas lunch. 

The tables were decorated by one of the newest residents, the artistic Verlie Norris, who used native plants to create beautiful floral centrepieces. 

Entertainment was laid on by a choir from Optimal Support Services who performed a medley of Christmas carols. 

Residents dressed up as cowboys and characters from the wild west, paid tribute to Retirement Living Community Manager Jane Legard, who wore a Stetson hat and inflatable horse costume for the occasion. 

They describe Jane as the beating heart of the community.  Jane organised the lunch, as she does so many other events.  There are BBQs, shared pizza evenings, trivia and happy hour, to name but a few. 

“Jane is an incredible help and a great friend to everyone in the village,” says Verlie.  “Nothing is too much trouble for her.  She’s always there with her kind smile and her enormous capacity to listen.  She’s a treasure.” 

The site with its selection of one, two and three-bedroom units, offers what Verlie and her husband, Phil, describe as “billion dollar views” of the Tamar River and the valley below. Amenities on the site include an enclosed gazebo where you can hold BBQs, manicured gardens and a vegetable garden with raised beds where you can plant seasonal produce all year round. 

Jane loves being hands-on in supporting residents in a slew of retirement villages in northern Tasmania. 

“Retirement living is really the best of both worlds,” says Jane.  “You get the support of living in a retirement village where the gardening and maintenance is done for you, and it’s safe and secure.  There’s also the camaraderie of spending time with residents at a similar stage of their lives. It’s a win-win situation.” 

The retirement village is also on the same site as Newnham Community, Aldersgate Village.  As an aged care provider, Uniting AgeWell can support you every step of the way with home care services and residential aged care on site.