David Dippie was suddenly left home alone when his wife Judith moved into residential aged care.


They had been living in a four-bedroom, double-storey home.

“I looked at the options: I could get a single storey three-bedroom place, which would still give me maintenance issues, or I could come into a lifestyle village,” he said.

Having lived in Essendon for over 40 years, David chose Tigcorp’s Rivervue Retirement Village on the Maribyrnong River. Rivervue calls itself a premium retirement village, with lifestyle-enhancing amenities, offering a wide range of options for independent senior living.

“Coming here took pressure off the kids because I’m not on my own in a double-storey house. I’m happy here and self-sufficient, and they don’t worry,” said David.

While David gave up the big home and high-maintenance yard, he still enjoys his three-bedroom abode proudly overlooking the Maribyrnong River and Medway Golf Course. It’s the perfect floor plan to have enough space for his daughter to stay when she’s down from Queensland, as well as a home office.

An active volunteer and member of the Keilor East Rotary Club, David recently came back from a trip to Tonga where they helped set up three dental clinics in the three main schools. The ability to lock up and leave gave him peace of mind while he was away.

“I could just walk out the door knowing everything was safe and my plants would be watered,” said David about living in his gated community.

While David doesn’t use the resort-style facilities at Rivervue on a regular basis, he enjoys the social side of things without the pressure of having to do everything.

“I knew more people here in the first month than I did in the street I lived in for 14 years,” said David. “I’m getting involved within the community at a level that suits me. You can be involved as much as you want.”

According to David, living in a lifestyle-led retirement village is not for everybody, but something everybody should consider.

“For the right people, it’s perfect,” he said. “I’m still pinching myself that this place exists.”