Always find out about the resident who runs the retirement village calendar 

There is always one resident, perhaps two, who are the beating heart of a retirement village.

It is recommended when you visit a village, you meet the village manager and the resident who runs the retirement village’s social calendars.

“I feel incredibly lucky to have Jeff Burchell in the community — his enthusiasm, leadership, and dedication make him a real cornerstone of village life. As Head of the Social Committee, Vice Chair of the Residents’ Committee, and an active member of several groups, Jeff is deeply involved in planning and running events. I work closely with him to make sure the social calendar reflects the interests of the whole community and creates opportunities for everyone to get involved,” said Tarmar Christensen (pictured below), Village Manager of RetireAustralia’s The Verge Burleigh Golf Club retirement village.

“Historically, many of the weekday activities tended to appeal more to female residents—things like craft groups and social mornings were always well attended, but they didn’t always resonate with everyone. Over the past year, we’ve introduced new activities to broaden that appeal, including a monthly men’s breakfast with guest speakers and Sunday coffee catch-ups that offer another way for residents to connect.

“Inter-village events like bowls days and group outings have also been a great addition, giving residents the chance to meet people from other communities and build new friendships.