M A G A Z I N Es u M M E r 2 0 1 2 E d I t I o N

Good LifeThe

Arcadia Waters’ first resident, celebrates her

10th year of village life.

Also in this issueA beginner’s guide to cruising

Why you’re never too old to exercise

A weekender’s guide to the Swan Valley

What’s on around WA

Plus lots of village news & recent activities

ArcAdiA GrouP iS A WeStern AuStrAliAn comPAny dedicAted to fulf ill inG the needS And intereStS of AuStrAliAn SeniorS.

don’t worry, be happyIf laughter is the best medicine, then Arcadia Waters residents should live forever! they’re all smiles because they’re part of friendly and supportive communities with world class facilities to enjoy today and access to a wide range of optional in-home care services if they ever need them tomorrow.

for information or to arrange an inspection please call:

maddington: 9452 9400

Swanbourne: 9286 0500

mandurah: 9535 9700

Geraldton & Port denison: 9920 9000

e V e ry t h i n G yo u n e e d to e n j oy A l u x u r i o u S r e S o rt l i f e S t y l e

www.arcadiagroup.com.au

PArt of the ArcAdiA GrouP, A WeSt AuStrAliAn comPAny dedicAted to fulf ill inG the needS & intereStS of older AuStrAliAnS.

Contentsintroduction from roger Kwok 1

news from mandurah 2

you’re never too old to excercise 6

news from Geraldton 8

A beginners guide to cruising 11

news from maddington 13

What’s on in WA 19

funny Bone 22

news from Swanbourne 23

A weekender’s guide to the wines

of the Swan Valley 25

January 15 this year marked an important milestone in the history of Arcadia Communities because it was ten years ago on that day that the first resident made our first village, Arcadia Waters on the Canning river in Maddington, her home.

Her name is Kay Penn dennis and I remain indebted to her for her courage and belief in what we set out to achieve all those years ago. Her pioneering spirit started the ball rolling and she did much to encourage others to follow suit.

to this day Kay remains a very active member of the Arcadia Waters community and by all accounts has no regrets, even though she lived alone on a virtual building site for her first three months in what was to evolve into the most luxurious lifestyle community south of Perth.

so what better time to give our Good Life magazine a fresh new look and fill it with more relevant content for our West Australian readers. As well as village news and articles that offer an insight into just some of the many recreational and social activities organised and enjoyed by our residents over the past few months, you will find general interest articles about travel, finance, weekend breaks and health and fitness. Plus there’s a wealth of information on a host of events scheduled to take place over the coming months in our great state of WA, some of which you may wish to schedule into your busy social calendars!.

If you have any ideas about any other topics of interest that you would like to see become a regular feature of the Good Life magazine, then please contact your village manager and let them know. We will try to accommodate them in future issues.

roger Kwok

Managing director Arcadia Group

Welcome to our ‘new look’ Good Life Magazine

Good LifeThe

M A G A Z I N ES U M M E R 2 0 1 2 E D I T I O N

Good LifeThe

Arcadia Waters’ fi rst resident,celebrates her

10th yearof village life.

Also in this issueA beginner’s guide to cruisingWhy you’re never too old to exerciseA weekender’s guide to the Swan ValleyWhat’s on around WA

Plus lots of village news & recent activitiesARCADIA GROUP IS A WESTERN AUSTRALIAN COMPANY DEDICATED TO

FULF ILL ING THE NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF AUSTRALIAN SENIORS.

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Good Life

‘Moulin Rouge’ comes for ChristmasChristmas dinner just wouldn’t be the same at Lady Brand Lifestyle Village without its never-to-be-missed opening entertainment. this year a taste of Paris came to the village in the form of ‘Les Girls’ who performed the Can-Can - in the unlikely form of Eddy, Andy, John, sid, Lindsay, tony, and ross.

despite being rather overly made-up females, ‘Les Girls’ looked ravishing and their performances were truly electrifying and very entertaining! the guests had no idea who was who and it was great to see so many new residents getting in to the spirit of the party.

Friday 25 January saw over one hundred residents enjoying a delicious meal of roast lamb, mint sauce with all the trimmings. there was a great atmosphere in the room, with beautiful table settings appropri-ate to the occasion adding to the ambience. the lady resident volunteers who set and decorate these tables every week deserve a round of applause. ‘rockin’ ronnie’ once again provided music from the 60’s to which many partygoers danced and sang along.

saturday 26th January – Australia day – saw over one hundred and fifty residents turn up for the Great Aussie Breakfast, organised by resident Graeme Parsons. Graeme and Leonie did a wonderful job with their band of helpers, to create a delicious feast and a memorable morning of celebration.

new managers, frances and ray

Bristowe from new Zealand were

pronounced ‘honorary’ Aussies by the

lady Brand residents!

sid Gill, Vice President of the residents’ Association gave a heart-warming speech before the raising of the Australian flag and a chorus of Advance Australia Fair. Everyone then gathered in the dining room to enjoy the hearty breakfast. A presentation was made to the new managers, Frances and ray Bristowe. As they are ‘Kiwis’, the residents welcomed them to Australia by making them ‘honorary’ Aussies!

We recently told the story of the late rob Woffinden, a famous British speedway champion who was the son of current Lady Brand residents Brian and Molly Woffinden. rob made regular visits to compete in Australia and in his memory the ‘rob Woffinden Classic’ is held at Pinjar Park speedway each year.

this year Brian and Molly’s grandson, tai, came to WA specifically to race in this Classic and won all of his five heats in brilliant fashion and led home the opposition in both the first semi and the all-important final.

He was overcome with emotion at the win as it meant so much to him; knowing how proud his father would have been. After a short holiday, tai will return to England to continue his successful racing career.

‘Grandson-of-a-Gun’ Speedway Star

tai in action at Pinjar Park and inset

– with his trophy

Australia Day Celebrations

FroM MANdurAHNews

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Good LifeA trip down memory laneIn this article, Lady Brand resident, Ann Boston, recalls her and her husband’s first impressions of Australia when they arrived from England in the late sixties and the challenges they faced as migrants.

Another ship docks at Fremantle during the 60’s

this year will mark, for me, forty four years of living in Australia. How things here have changed. When we arrived, by ship, via Fremantle, it was June 1969. We were lucky enough to have family, already living here, to meet us on the dockside.

our first trip was to safety Bay, where we were to live. It was the ‘scenic route’ straight past the abattoirs in ‘Freo’ and the sight of the poor condemned sheep, plus the smell, wasn’t really what I was expecting to be greeted with on my first day on Aussie soil.

After a few days of settling in, the first thing to do was get a car, we paid $120 for a white Volkswagen ‘beetle’ and the rest of our money was used as deposit for a house in rockingham Park. the one we chose was not quite finished but it had three bedrooms, one bathroom and the piece de resistance – a sunken lounge! to start with, we lived in a furnished duplex which we rented from my in-laws. We had sold all of our furniture in England, and upon moving into our new house, quickly realised we probably should have brought some of it with us. We could afford only two stools, a tV and a bed, so we sat on our pillows to watch tV and saved up for a dining suite which I had seen in Zimpels.

It had blue leather chairs and on the table was displayed a bunch of blue glass grapes. I had to have them!! Well this was the sixties; the era of orange carpet and green lounge suites, so blue grapes was quite benign. We were able to secure jobs, mine as a clerk/typist at Australian Iron and steel, in the purchasing department.

one of the bigger dogs at Lady Brand Lifestyle Village is ‘tia’, a beautiful black lab who was rescued from K-9 dog rescue Centre in Mandurah several years ago. she was around 6 years old then but now lives very happily in the village with di and Guy Cox and really enjoys her daily walks to the local park.

Queen congratulates Lady Brand residentIt’s not every day that you get a letter from the Queen, but ray and Blanche Connolly, celebrating 60 years of happy married life, received one recently. they also were sent letters from the Prime Minister, the Leader of the opposition, the state Premier and Leader of the state opposition, amongst

other dignitaries.

Judging by these advertisements it would be nice to travel back in time to 1974 for an evening meal! Not only do the menus sound inviting, but the prices are astounding by today’s standards!

they were very busy and we had to work regular overtime. this entitled us to have food vouchers to use at the work’s canteen. I discovered cinnamon cake, which I loved and usually indulged in. terry’s first job was as a ‘concrete finisher’ at CBH (the bulk grain terminal). they gave him a bucket and a pair of gloves and told him to fill in all the air holes in the grain silos. He didn’t do that for long!!

Every night we would go home and pick a bucket of stones out of our garden, for although Landalls, our builder, had laid our lawn (as part of the contract) they didn’t bother cleaning up all the builders’ rubble and it took us weeks to do it.

Back then, food cost $15 a week and we could buy a huge brown paper bag (before plastic ones) of fruit including delicious peaches

and plums for $2 from ‘tom the Cheap’ in rockingham.

Ah, those were the

days. AB

31 Curtin Way $330,000 Arcadia Waters Mandurah - Lady Brand Lifestyle Village

The home at a glance

design: Bernard 2

Size: 108sqm

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 2

toilets: 2

Garage: Single

Study: no

Patio: yes

this well-appointed villa is only a short stroll from the residents’ Clubhouse. the single garage operates by remote control and offers direct access to the home. there is a well-appointed kitchen, a spacious open-plan living and dining area that leads to a fully screened (mosquito proof) patio with security doors on both pas-sageways. Perfect for summer relaxation or entertaining while enjoying the spec-tacular water feature. Fully ducted Fujitsu reverse cycle air conditioning, beautiful pelmets and curtains complete this delightful home.

For details on this and other homes at Arcadia Waters Mandurah -

Lady Brand Lifestyle Village, call Debbie on

(08) 9535 9700 or 0427 929 884.

Good Life featured homes

While everyone living in our villages already knows about how good it is to downsize to a more manageable and modern home in a secure environment, some of our readers may be planning their retirement and could be interested in making the move to ‘ living life the Arcadia Wa y’.

If this is you, then here is a selection of homes available within our villages that may be of interest to you.

Arcadia Waters Mandurah - Lady Brand Lifestyle Village

31 Curtin Way $330,000

The home at a glance Design: Bernard 2 Size: 108sqm Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 2 Toilets: 2 Garage: Single Study: No Patio: Yes

This well-appointed villa is only a short stroll from the Residents' Clubhouse and o�ers 2 bedrooms with 2 semi en-suite bathrooms.

The single garage operates by remote control with direct access to the home for added security. Inside, next to the well-appointed kitchen is a spacious open-plan living and dining area that leads to a fully screened (mosquito proof) patio with security doors on both passageways. Here you can relax or entertain on warm summer’s evenings while enjoying an unbelievable water feature. Fully ducted Fujitsu reverse cycle air conditioning, beautiful pelmets and curtains complete this delightful home.

For details on this and other homes at Arcadia Waters Mandurah - Lady Brand Lifestyle Village, call Debbie on (08) 9535 9700 or 0427 929 884.

Arcadia Waters Swanbourne – The Beaumont

2 bedroom apartment $620,000

The home at a glance Design: Type ‘A’ Size: 91.4sqm Bedrooms: 2 Bathrooms: 1 Toilets: 1 Garage: Single undercroft Study: No Balcony: 12.8sqm

MANdurAH VILLAGE FEAturEd HoME

Do I really have to

wear this silly hat?

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Good Life

doesn’t require strenuous workouts or trips to the gym. It’s about adding more movement and activity to your life, even in small ways. Whether you are generally healthy or are managing an illness—even if you’re housebound—there are many easy ways to

get your body moving and improve your health.

Tips for getting started safely

Committing to a routine of physical activity is one of the healthiest decisions you can make. Before you get moving, though, consider how best to be safe.

• Get medical clearance from your doctor before starting an exercise program, especially if you have a pre-existing condition. Ask if there are any activities you should avoid.

• Consider health concerns. Keep in mind how your ongoing health problems affect your workouts. For example, diabetics may need to adjust the timing of medication and meal plans when setting an exercise schedule. Above all, if something feels wrong, such as sharp pain or unusual shortness of breath, simply stop. You may need to scale back or try another activity.

• Start slowly. If you haven’t been active for a while, it can be harmful to go ‘all out’. Instead, build up your exercise program little by little. try spacing workouts in ten-minute increments twice a day. or try just one session each week. Prevent crash-and-burn fatigue by warming up, cooling down, and keeping water handy.

• Commit to an exercise schedule for at least 3 or 4 weeks so that it becomes habit, and force yourself to stick with it.

• Stay motivated by focusing on short-term goals, such as improving your mood and energy levels and reducing stress, rather than goals such as weight loss, which can take longer to achieve.

• Recognize problems. Exercise should never hurt or make you feel lousy. stop exercising immediately and call your doctor if you feel dizzy or short of breath, develop chest pain or pressure, break out in a cold sweat, or experience pain. Also stop if a joint is red,

swollen, or tender to touch.

Types of activities that are beneficial to seniors• Walking. Is a perfect way to start exercising. It requires no special equipment, aside from a pair of comfortable walking shoes and can be done anywhere.

• Senior sports or fitness classes. Keeps motivation alive while also providing a source of fun, stress relief, and a place to meet friends.

• Water aerobics and water sports. Working out in water is wonderful for seniors because water reduces stress and strain on the body’s joints.

• Yoga. Combines a series of poses with breathing. Moving through the poses works on strength, flexibility and balance. Yoga can be adapted to any level.

• Tai Chi and Qi Gong. Martial arts-inspired systems of movement that increase balance and strength. Classes for seniors are

often available at your local community centre.

You’re never too old to exercise

In this and future issues of the Good Life we will be running regular articles on some simple exercise tips and things you can do to help keep your body fit and healthy.

so if you have been feeling a little lethargic lately, you probably already know that a bit of regular exercise is very likely going to help you feel a lot better both physically and mentally. the fact of the matter is that you really can’t afford not to. It really doesn’t matter how much or little regular exercise you do, it all helps and sooner or later you are going to feel a lot more energetic and

healthy, no matter how old you are.

Gain energy and feel strongerAs you grow older, an active lifestyle is more important than ever. regular exercise can help boost energy, maintain your independence, and manage symptoms of illness or pain. Exercise can even reverse some of the symptoms of aging. And not only is exercise good for your body, it’s also good for your mind, mood, and memory. Whether you are generally healthy or are managing an illness, there are plenty of ways to get more active, improve

confidence, and boost your fitness.

Exercise is the key to healthy agingWe all know that regular exercise is good for you, but many people just don’t know where to begin. If you fall into this category, remember that you’re not alone. Many seniors feel discouraged by fitness barriers, such as concerns about injury or falls. or maybe you have an ongoing health problem or disability that is keeping you from getting active. Perhaps you think you’re too old or frail. the truth is that you can’t afford not to get moving. Exercise is the key to staying strong, energetic, and healthy as you get older.

No matter how old you are, or your current physical condition, you can benefit from exercise. reaping the rewards of exercise

Dispelling the myths about exercise and older adultsMyth 1: there’s no point to exercising. I’m going to get old anyway. Fact: Exercise and strength training helps you look and feel younger and stay active longer. regular physical activity lowers your risk for a variety of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity.

Myth 2: Elderly people shouldn’t exercise. they should save their strength and rest. Fact: research shows that a sedentary lifestyle is unhealthy for the elderly. Period. Inactivity often causes seniors to lose the ability to do things on their own and can lead to more hospitalizations, doctor visits, and use of medicines for illnesses.

Myth 3: Exercise puts me at risk of falling down. Fact: regular exercise, by building strength and stamina, prevents loss of bone mass and improves balance, actually reducing your risk of falling.

Myth 4: It’s too late. I’m already too old to start exercising Fact: You’re never too old to exercise! If you’ve never exercised before, or it’s been a while, start with light walking and other gentle activities.

Myth 5: I’m disabled. I can’t exercise sitting down. Fact: Chair-bound people face special challenges but can lift light weights, stretch, and do chair aerobics to increase range of mo-tion, improve muscle tone, and promote cardiovascular health.

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Good Life

News FroM GErALdtoN

The Geraldton Veggie PatchPhil shepherd, the Geraldton village ‘Veggie Man’, takes a break in the village community garden.

Phil shepherd, the Geraldton village ‘Veggie Man’, reports on progress and harvest from the Arcadia Waters Geraldton usually highly productive community garden.

the burning summer sun and the rather windy days have reduced the Veggie Patch harvest to a veritable trickle with not much more to come until we get under way again in late March early April.

the good news is however, that the bees have found the rock-melons and are busy dancing from flower to flower hopefully setting up a nice crop. Already there are some developing melons, but don’t get the ice cream out just yet!

the poor old pumpkins started to cook on the vines before they had ripened, but I am fairly sure with a bit more tLC there will be plenty on the table each Wednesday for residents to enjoy!

recently we had a dig under the sweet potatoes and as everyone in the village will have seen, it was none too soon! We harvested 6 kgs of ‘biguns’ from just the one bush!

the snake beans are finished, and the passion fruit yield is in decline, but in general I am happy with last years’ results and again many thanks to fellow resident ross for his help.

Indoor bowls breeds some friendly rivalry and lots of funIndoor bowls is a popular social activity amongst a group of enthusiastic residents each saturday at Arcadia Waters Geraldton.

Played between 1 and 3pm they enjoy the friendly rivalry and an afternoon tea after the matches and to date the men bowlers have dominated the results since November last year. It is a bit of a worry that no women are winning the points tally so the bowls committee may be forced to tweak the rules!

on tuesday 12th February they held an evening tournament with four teams competing. the winning team was the Green team made up of Phil & dorothy shepherd, Coral Eaton and Ian Mansfield. second place went to the red team, Yellow was third and White was fourth. It was a good, fun night and everyone enjoyed resident Margaret’s home-made chocolates and lollies.

We know there are some very talented cooks amongst the Arcadia Waters residents. In this issue we are sharing three tried and tested recipes form Carmela in Geraldton. We hope you enjoy them.

Spinach PattiesIngredients 3 cups cooked spinach stalks Half a cup self-raising flour Half a cup plain flour 3 tbsp grated parmesan cheese 1 egg lightly beaten 1 tbsp chopped parsley 1 clove garlic (crushed) Warm water (enough to make a firm batter) salt & pepper to taste

Method Combine all the ingredients to make a firm batter

Heat some oil in a shallow frypan, drop tbsps of batter mix into hot oil and cook until golden

drain and serve hot or cold.

Will keep in an airtight container for a few days in the fridge

Zucchini sliceIngredients 375g Zucchini, grated 1 onion, chopped 3 rashes bacon, diced 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated Half a cup vegetable oil 5 eggs, lightly beaten 1 cup self-raising flour salt & pepper to taste

Method Combine all the ingredients, pour into an oven dish and bake in a moderate oven (180°C) for about 30-40 mins.

Allow to cool on a rack then slice into squares and serve hot or cold

Will keep in an airtight container for a few days in the fridge.

suitable to freeze

Pork Rib Spaghetti SauceIngredients 4 tbsp oil 500g pork ribs 500g beef mince 700ml Passata (fresh tomato puree) 2 tbsp basil 500g dried spaghetti 4 tbsp parmesan cheese salt & pepper to taste

Method Heat oil in a pan and add onion and cook until golden

Add pork ribs and mince and brown

Add passata and basil and salt and pepper to taste

Cover and simmer for 1.5 hours.

Cook spaghetti in boiling water.

drain and add sauce

sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve hot

the sauce is suitable to freeze

Tasty recipes

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Voyager of the seas is the eighth largest ship in the world, weighing in at a hefty 137,270 tonnes, she can carry up to 3800 passengers. At 310.9 metres long she would be taller than the Centrepoint tower in sydney if raised vertically.

Good Life

the library at Arcadia Waters Geraldton continues to attract a group of avid readers and resident Jan Gill kindly agreed to write this review of ‘the street Lawyer’ by John Grisham.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and was very taken by the legal twists and turns. Michael is a lawyer in a big legal firm heading for partnership and a huge income. But his priorities change when he and several other lawyers get held up in their conference room by a homeless man who had been evicted by one of the real estate lawyers at the firm. Michael survives the encounter, but the homeless man does not.

Michael’s conscience is pricked as he delves deeper into the reasons for the encounter and discovers that the homeless man was a mentally ill veteran. Investigating the veteran, he follows the trail that leads him to another law firm that deals with poverty stricken people.

Here he is introduced to life on the street and realises that he is more comfortable practicing law in this sphere in preference to his corporate career. He decides to leave his law firm and joins the poverty lawyers, taking with him an incriminating file.

Geraldton Village Book Review

GErALdtoN VILLAGE FEAturEd HoME

All aboard! there has never been a better time for cruising, so if you’re thinking of setting sail for the first time, we have some tips that should ensure that you have a great time at sea.

A cruise can take you to places you never dreamt of: Antarctica, the Bahamas, Asia, the Americas, or even Australia’s top End, amongst many others. Cruising is relaxing – you only need to unpack once – and yet you will often visit many different destinations - the perfect senior travel experience.

Whether you jump on a lavish cruise ship, cruise the rhine, or cross the Atlantic on a luxurious liner, a cruise is a stress-free holiday and this ‘Beginner’s Guide to Cruising’ will give you all you need to start planning and sailing soon.

Imagine, sitting on the deck with the sun on your face and a glass of bubbly in your hand while you gaze over blue bays, beautiful harbours, mighty fjords or shimmering reefs. Better still, you can do it all without having to lug a suitcase, read a map, traipse from hotel to hotel, or worry about where to eat.

Cruising is surely the ultimate in relaxing holidays and is now, with something for everyone, more exciting than it has never been. spectacular mega-ships cater to those hankering for glit-tering entertainment and a sociable nightlife. Boutique and river ships offer a more intimate atmosphere, while floating resorts cater to families or those holidaying with grandchildren.

Meanwhile, adventure cruises head to remote destinations like Antarctica and the African coast, themed cruises absorb you in art history or culinary pleasures, and river cruises enable you to explore far inland. Have fun, improve your skills, or indulge your enquiring mind: that’s modern life on an ocean wave.

A beginner’s guide to cruising28 Coral Road $359,000 Arcadia Waters Mandurah - Lady Brand Lifestyle Village

The home at a glance:

design: monaco federation

total Area: 160.03 m²

Bedrooms: 2

Bathroom: Semi

toilets: 2

Study: yes

Air conditioned: yes

Garage: double carport

this well-appointed 2 bedroom home is brand new and had never been lived in! It is only a short stroll to the Clubhouse and the pro-posed bowling green. Inside it has a spacious and airy open plan liv-ing area and a well-appointed kitchen with modern appliances. the home is air-conditioned and located not far from one of the security gates for ease of entry and exit.

For details on this and other homes available at Arcadia

Waters Geraldton, call Thierry & Kelly on (08) 9920 9000 or

0414 893 090

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At 345m in length and weighing 150,000 tonnes, Queen Mary 2 is the most magnificent and largest ocean liner ever built. renowned for her transatlantic crossings, she seamlessly combines impeccable service, luxurious accommodation and exquisite dining with modern innovations.

the only drawback is that with so many op-tions choosing the right cruise can be daunt-ing and confusing. don’t worry. A good travel agent can point you to a cruise line that suits your interests and budget, and there’s a wealth of information available online.

Cruising has been likened to dating. For it to be a success your personalities need to be similar, the venue must have the right atmo-sphere and you must be able to pay the bill.

so here’s what to think about when booking your first cruise:

1. Start planning early. Last-minute cruise deals are becoming rare. Plan at least four months in advance to get the best price and cabin choice.

2. Choose the ship. size, amenities, entertainment options, luxury levels and ambience vary greatly. so make sure that you do plenty of research and ask others who have been cruising for their advice to find the ship that’s ideal for you. For example you may prefer to avoid the noise and chaos of children, so opt for a ship with minimal children’s facilities.

3. Choose the cruise. You need to consider different destinations, the style of shore tours you will enjoy and of course, how long you want to cruise for – from three days to many months – all should be considered.

4. Check inclusions. Most package deals cover meals and onboard activities and entertainment. But you usually pay extra for drinks, shore excursions or specialty restaurants on board.

5. Upgrade. Pay for the best cabin category you can afford, especially if marking your cruise a special occasion. A larger cabin, higher deck and larger external window (even a balcony) is really worth the extra.

6. Think about excursions. standard city tours can be enjoy-able – and cheaper – on your own. Leaving you to spend money on more interesting options, like scenic flights or cultural visits.

7. Make plans. You don’t have to pre-book shore excursions, spa treatments or specialty restaurants, but doing so beats the onboard rush and queues and can save you money.

8. Book travel insurance. It covers you against costly cancella-tion fees, delays and medical emergencies. the last thing you need while aboard or abroad.

9. Extend. often you get little scheduled time in the departure and arrival ports, so consider booking hotel nights, so you can relax and do a bit of sightseeing before and afterwards.

Most of all, as you embark on your first cruise, don’t worry too much: first-timer cruisers aren’t uncommon. Cruise staff are generally very helpful, while regular cruisers – those old salts with the wind in their hair – are happy to explain how things work. Just relax and enjoy yourself and take everything in your stride.

If you think sailing into the sunset is something that only hap-pens in romance novels, it’s about time you tried it for yourself. However, if you are still unsure and wondering if you are going to enjoy the experience there are several cruise lines offering overnight trips at a very economical cost that will help you to decide if cruising is for you.

FroM MAddINGtoNNewsNew year celebrations at Maddington the best everIn typical Arcadia Waters Maddington fashion, residents, their families and friends, farewelled the old year and welcomed in 2013 with gusto.

over 110 people gathered in the village courtyard to spend a very enjoyable evening as they counted down to the midnight hour. thanks to the social Committee and their many helpers, there were plenty of tables and chairs for everyone, and the twinkling lights in the palms and trees added to the atmosphere.

this year celebrations were to a different beat. dJ and MC, ron ‘Would you like a beer?’ Fischer, proved that not only did he know the right buttons to push on all the lights and equipment he had, he was a singer and entertainer in his own right and knew

all the best songs to play. Much faster, brighter and a little louder than in the past, but certainly well received, resulting in a lot more people taking to the ‘dance floor’. With his roving microphone, ron was definitely in the middle of things, surprising many people by turning up at their table to encourage a sing along.

A great night, although for some it was perhaps a little too hot for comfort, but some strategically placed fans helped provide a few cooling breezes. these were much appreciated after a stint on the dance floor - where do these people find so much vigour and energy?

2012 concluded with everyone in a giant circle taking a few minutes of quiet time to contemplate the year past and the one to come. After an enthusiastic countdown, 2013 was then welcomed in with the usual singing of Auld Lang syne, lots hugs and kisses, and very best wishes for a safe, happy and healthy New Year for all.

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Good Life

Quite often there are functions held in the Clubhouse that emphasize how lucky the residents feel to be living in a village like Arcadia Waters in Maddington. the Waterways Coffee shop Christmas Party held on Wednesday, 12th december 2012, was no exception.

A quick look around the dining area showed just how many people contribute in one way or another to the successful running of the Coffee shop (even partners of volunteers play their part!) made it a very special occasion.

Arcadia Group managing director, roger Kwok, who with his wife, Catherine, were special guests roger presented both Lorraine Johnson and her ‘off-sider’ Jane Pamment with beautiful arrangements of flowers in appreciation of all that they do towards the organisation and running of the coffee shop. roger went on to say that the Waterways Coffee shop at Arcadia Waters is the envy of other many other villages.

the purpose of the Christmas Party was to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who gave so freely of their time, and cooking skills. It was good to see donna Johnson there also, as she and her husband (in addition to being Lorraine’s daughter-in-law and son) are responsible for supplying the Waterways Café shirts, aprons and caps from their business in darwin.

As usual the dining room was beautifully set up, with each round table colourfully decorated. Chef reiner got the evening off to a

good start with Hot Gluhwein, followed by another of his delicious carvery meals.

there was a slight pause before the serving of dessert, as Jeannie Field took the opportunity to present Lorraine with the money raised from sales of the ‘resident’s recipes’ Cookbook. so far 230 recipe books have been sold and the $1,655.80 raised will be used for the benefit of the Village.

Jeannie also took time to thank everyone involved in the organisation and development of the cookbook, particularly all those people who contributed their favourite recipes, Positive stationery for their donation of labour, and Arcadia Waters Management (Ann and Geoff) for their help with paper, printing and binding.

Jeannie was then joined by shirley Cullen, who was responsible for the photos and presentation. unfortunately, Carole ovington who did all the typing of the recipes was unable to be there.

soon after Christine and tom Jackson of ‘Heart & soul’ began playing, their brand of music is always popular and it was not long before there were plenty of people prepared to show their fancy steps on the dance floor.

A number of residents took advantage of the open invitation to come along after the meal and join in the dancing. A surprise visit by Frank spencer also added to the enjoyment.

Waterways Coffee Shop Christmas Party

Arcadia Group managing director, roger Kwok and his wife catherine presented lorraine johnson and jane Pamment with beautiful arrangements of flowers in appreciation of all their jhard work running the coffee shop.

Shirley, lorraine, and jeannie were all smiles

morning tea under threatening skies at Pinjarra

residents queue to by delicious fresh fruit

delicious cherries on the tree in the orchard

Residents get a bite of the cherry

on Wednesday, 5th december 2012, our lovely cheerful bus driver, Jen, picked up a hoard of eager day-trippers to head south to dwellingup in the hope that this year, they would actually come home with some cherries.

the rain held off until we the bus arrived in Pinjarra, where the merry band of travellers took shelter under a veranda for a morning tea of home-made sandwiches and cakes. then it was off to the cherry orchard - and yes, they had some, and yes, they bought plenty!.

Lunch was a bit of a novelty, being the first time it was held in the packing and then it was off to the raspberry where everyone picked their own until the heavens opened and everyone had to make a dash for cover.

With all the raspberries, strawberries, cherries and other fruit that was purchased, the bus smelled like a greengrocers shop. In dwellingup, the bus called in at ‘touch of Aroma’ where the residents loaded up with home-made preserves, chutneys, novelties etc.- all good for Christmas presents.

the rain didn’t spoil the day, the real challenge was apparently carrying all the parcels home!

Carols in the Courtyardresidents gathered in the courtyard for the annual Christmas Carols Concert

While it was ‘business as usual’ for the Wednesday night ‘card school’ and the pool room players, a large number of residents and friends gathered in the clubhouse courtyard on 19th december 2012 for the Annual Christmas Carols Concert.

the singing of many favourite carols and other Christmas songs was led by the choir, ‘Praise unlimited’ and their very enthusiastic conductor, steve Fernando. this was a return performance to the village by this popular choir, who are in great demand to perform at other Perth venues at Christmastime.

Following the concert, many residents adjourned to the dining room where, thanks to some careful coaxing of a temperamental tea urn by resident Val Cope, they were able to socialise with the choir and enjoy a light supper with tea or coffee.

thanks must go to to Edith and Ken smith for organising the event, and to don skipworth who was the MC.

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Australia Day breakfast reveals some fascinating factsMaddington residents get into the Aussie spirit on Australia day

the delicious Australia day breakfast prepared by Chef reiner at Arcadia Waters in Maddington

those who enjoyed the delicious breakfast prepared by Chef reiner at Arcadia Waters in Maddington were also treated to an interesting talk given by rob Waite on the choosing of Australia’s National Anthem.

He explained that Australia is one of only a handful of countries where the national flag and anthem have been chosen by the people in a referendum. rob went on to detail the processes involved that resulted in ‘Advance Australia Fair’ being proclaimed as Australia’s national anthem by the Governor-General on 19th April 1984.

It took eleven years from the time a competition for a distinctively Australian national anthem was announced by the then Prime Minister, the Hon. E G Whitlam, QdC, MP, in his 1973 Australia day address. Judging by the time taken, this was obviously something that required a lot of thought!

In May 1977, after the distribution of preferences, the referendum results were: Advance Australian Fair - 4.5 million votes, Waltzing Matilda - 2.25 million votes. there is no legislation governing or limiting the use of the national anthem which is in the public domain and free of copyright.

rob also took the opportunity to read a poem ‘our Flag’, which is in itself a very good answer to those people who want to change the Australian flag.

It was then time to enjoy Chef reiner’s five-star breakfast after which Jim Veitch continued the program with a description of Australia as a land of contrasts. He started his talk by describing a sign in a Water taxi office in sydney - “Yes, Perth is a city on the other side of the island and, No, we don’t go there!”

He also enlightened the audience to the fact that as an island, Australia has an area of 7,618,000 sq kms and is the 6th largest nation in the world. the land height goes from -15m (Lake Eyre) to 2,228m (Mt. Kosciuszko). our population of 23 million represents 0.3% of the world population, making Australia one of the most sparsely populated countries, but also one of the most urbanised in the world. 70% of the population live in 10 East coast cities!

Australia is also the driest continent, but you wouldn’t think it when you consider the terrible floods on the east coast of the continent. Jim completed the morning’s proceedings with a very appropriate reading of dorothea Mackellar’s well known poem - ‘My Country’.

Our Flagour Flag bears the stars that blaze at nightIn our southern skies of blue.And that little old Flag in the corner,that’s part of our heritage too.It’s for the English, the scots and the IrishWho were sent to the ends of the earth.the rogues and the schemers, the doers and dreamersWho gave modern Australia birth.And you who are seeking to change it,You don’t seem to understandIt’s the Flag of our law and our languageNot the Flag of a faraway land.there are plenty of people who’ll tell youthat when Europe was plunged into nightthat little old Flag in the cornerWas their symbol of freedom and light.It doesn’t mean we owe allegianceto a forgotten Imperial dreamWe’ve the stars to show where we’re goingAnd the old Flag to show where we’ve been.

Good Life

on 15th January 2013, a special anniversary in the history of Arcadia Waters Maddington was quietly celebrated. It was ten years ago to the day that Kay Pen-dennis became the first resident to move into the village.

she was on her own for the first three months, but says she was very well looked after. during the day she had the company of all the ‘lovely young builders’ (Kay’s words), then at 4.00pm there was a security guard on duty until 7.00 am when the builders came back to work.

on weekends there was another security guard in the day time with an Alsatian dog, so Kay considers she was very well looked after and says she slept well even though she was living in the middle of a building site.

over the years Kay had seen many changes in the village, as evidenced by the photos taken at the time she moved in. Kay says she has never regretted her decision to move to Arcadia Waters and considers it a privilege to have watched managing director, roger Kwok’s dream of a true resort retirement village come to fruition and the artist’s impressions of the Clubhouse and surrounds become reality.

A very special 10th anniversary

Kay Penn-dennis, the very first and pioneering

resident at Arcadia Waters in maddington

Kay’s view from her living area when she first moved in

construction of the now picturesque

waterway adjacent to Kay’s homethe waterway as it is today

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Water babies make a big splash to keep fitJudging by the volume of the music, anyone passing the indoor heated indoor pool at Arcadia Waters Maddington on a Wednesday or Friday morning recently would have been forgiven for thinking the place had been taken over by ‘disco’ dancers or something similar.

But no, it was a new crop of ‘water babies’ being put through their paces by a very energetic water aerobics instructor, Carla.

As well as the music, there was much laughter as everyone endeavoured to follow Carla’s instructions. Not as easy as it looks, but a great way to keep all those joints moving!

Arcadia Waters Maddington elects new Residents’ CommitteeAs all positions were declared vacant, an entirely new residents’ Committee was elected at the Annual General Meeting held in the Maddington Village clubhouse on Wednesday, 16th January 2013. the new Committee will comprise: Jim Veitch - Chairperson, Ken smith - Vice-Chairperson,

Hilda Clough - secretary, Val Cope - treasurer & Entertainment, Gloria Waite- rosters & Friday Night Coordinator and Edith smith – tours & Coach trips.

Before closing the meeting, Margaret Hudson took the opportunity to propose a vote of thanks for the outgoing Committee thanking them for all their outstanding work in the past year. she wished the new Committee every success and said that they had a hard example to live up to.

the all-new residents’ committee at Arcadia Waters in maddington

residents being put through their paces in a session of water aerobics

MAddINGtoN VILLAGE FEAturEd HoME

34 Teal Terrace $395,000Arcadia Waters Maddington

- Lady Brand Lifestyle Village

the home at a glance

design: capri

Size: 110sqm

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1

toilets: 2

Garage: Single

Study: no

Patio: yes

this lovely 3 bedroom home has an outlook to be envied. It is very light and airy inside with good quality and practical tiling to the open plan living area. there are two toilets and a large bathroom and the generous bedrooms are all carpeted. the home also has reverse cycle ducted air conditioning and a delightful undercover alfresco entertaining area to the rear which is well planted but really easy to maintain. overall, this home has a great feel to it.

For further details or to arrange and inspection of

the home and village, please call Ann on

(08) 9452 9400.

Picturing New York:

Photographs from MoMA

January 26 to May 12

Photographs by some of the world’s most legendary photographers will be on show at the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Exclusive to Perth - Picturing New York: Photographs from MoMA documents more than a century of change in the ‘city that never sleeps’. the Art Gallery of Western Australia has formed an exclusive partnership with MoMA (the Museum of Modern Art) presenting six world-class exhibitions over three years. W: artgallery.wa.gov.au

V8 Supercars Perth 360

May 3 to May 5

see all the action of the 2013 V8 supercars Championship at Barbagallo raceway this May when Nissan and Erebus Motorsport, driving Mercedes AMG, race alongside Holden and Ford under the new Car of the Future regulations. A feast of motor-sport action and fierce competition will not disappoint motorsport enthusiasts. W: perth.v8supercars.com.au

What’s on in WA

SunSmart Busselton Festival of Triathlon

May 10 to May 11

the sunsmart Busselton Festival of triathlon event incorporates the popular Busselton Ironman 70.3 triathlon, a kids triathlon and a retail expo. More than 3,000 competitors take on the tough Ironman 70.3 course, featuring a 1.9km swim, 90.1km ride and 21.1km run. W: busseltonhalf.com

Ningaloo Whaleshark Festival

May 24 to 26

the Ningaloo Whaleshark Festival marks the beginning of the whale shark season by welcoming these gentle giants to Exmouth’s pristine waters. the festival is accompanied by live music, market stalls, a fun run and exhibits by some of the world’s leading whale shark researchers. W: ningaloowhalesharkfestival.com

Mid West Art Prize Exhibition

02 Mar to 11 May

the Mid West Art Prize Exhibition is open to artists throughout Western Australia working in any medium. A strict selection process is adhered to, to ensure an exhibition of the highest calibre. Entries are limited to a maximum of two works per artist ensuring a diverse exhibition of broad appeal. Judging will be completed by three independent people from outside of the region who are respected within the arts community.

Geraldton Boat, Caravan and

Camping Show 27 April to 28 April

$5 to $25he Geraldton Boat, Caravan and Camping show will be held at the Geraldton turf Club. the show is one of the biggest regional shows of its kind in Western Australia, bringing together a massive range of products and services. the show is a one-stop spot for outdoor enthusiasts to get all the latest gear in fishing, camping, caravans and camper trailers, 4Wds and accessories, boats and trailers, and much more.

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Perth International Comedy Festival

01 May to 19 May

After a stellar inaugural festival in 2012, the Perth International Comedy Festival is hurtling back in 2013. upping the ante, the festival will run for 19 days in May and boasts over 50 events and 150 performances. Local, national and international comedians will once again perform across four venues in Mount Lawley, bringing the laughs and rollicking good times back to Perth audiences.With all venues being less than a five minute walk from each other, the Perth International Comedy Festival is keeping it all close enough for you to hop, skip and jump to more than one show in an evening. W: perthcomedyfest.com.au

Bickley Harvest Festival

4 May to 5 May

the Bickley Valley thrives in the cooler autumn sun presenting visitors with a myriad of colours throughout the vineyards, orchards, the abundant deciduous trees and glorious gardens. At the Bickley Harvest Festival visitors can partake in a variety of activities such as enjoying the local artistic talent or indulging in tastings from boutique owner-operated wineries with hand-crafted wines.take home fresh local produce or treat yourself with delicious lunches - all while taking the time to admire the magnificent surroundings of the Bickley Valley.

Black Swan State Theatre Company

presents Death of a Salesman 4 May to 19 May

the great American father-son drama.Willy Loman spent his entire life as a travelling salesman chasing his fortune and never succeeding. Now, suffocated by debt, discarded by his boss and losing his grasp on reality, his hopes continue to rest on his son Biff, the golden boy who never lived up to the promise he showed in high school.In an unforgiving present, Willy grasps at the straws of a past he idealises and refuses to let go of false dreams for his son, despite the fact that Biff, who once worshipped his father, has come to reject him.

Argyle Diamonds Ord Valley Muster

17 May to 26 May

Now in its thirteenth year, this iconic West Australian event will feature an outstanding line-up of concerts and activities for the entertainment of Kimberley residents and the many visitors from around the nation and across the globe that the region attracts at that time of the year. set in one of the WA’s most spectacular destinations, the ord Valley Muster is a celebration of all that is unique about the East Kimberley region, including its cultural diversity, incredible landscapes and local charm. Highlights of this year’s festival include the durack Homestead dinner, the Kimberley Kitchen, Melbourne International Comedy Festival roadshow and the Airnorth Kimberley Moon Experience. W: ordvalleymuster.com.au

Carnarvon TropiCOOL Festival

18 May to 19 May

the Carnarvon tropicool Festival is one of the largest festivals in the Gascoyne region. the two day free event will include the Australian Lady Gaga and rihanna tribute show, scitech, Kite Kenitics, market stalls, agriculture displays, circus workshops, circus and aerial performances, Zumba, Northern Expression dance and Pundara dance performance,taylors Carnival, multicultural food stalls, Community shine stage and a Community Breakfast.

Countryman Gidgegannup Small Farm

Field Day 26 May 2013

the Countryman Gidgegannup small Farm Field day is being held in Gidgegannup, some 20 minutes east of Midland. the day is a programme of talks, demonstrations and information on what you can grow and produce on a small farms. there are lots of animals, displays, food and wine, as well as visits to open farms on a free bus service that is included in the entry fee. Entertainment is provided by the Western Australian Folk Federation and there are lots of interactive activities for the children.

Avon Valley Gourmet Food and

Wine Festival 1 June to 2 June

for everyone and is not to be missed. Experience flavours from all around the world with chilli, cheese, chocolate, nuts, yabbies, olive oil products, wine and beer tastings and everything in between. Cooking demonstrations will be back by popular demand along with a degustation dinner with Australian Iron Chef Winner Herb Faust who is partnering with Barton Jones Wines.

Country Cups - Opening to the

Broome Race Season 01 June to 17 August

When thinking of escaping the winter blues to enjoy Broome’s sunshine, make sure you plan to visit during the Broome’s nine week racing season and experience unique competitive racing just a stone’s throw from Broome’s famous Cable Beach.Broome’s 2013 racing season runs from June until mid-August. Be sure to book your holiday over one of Broome’s famous race days with the season opening on saturday, 1 June 2013 to feature a concert at the open air Cable Beach Amphitheatre the night before the races.

Leonora Golden Gift

1 June to 3 June

the Leonora Golden Gift is primarily Australia’s richest mile running race incorporated into a weekend of entertainment including a free community concert, horse racing and fireworks.the shire of Leonora has also teamed up with the Eastern Goldfields Cycle club to introduce the Leonora Golden Wheels Cycle race to the weekend’s program, creating a truly regional event focusing on sport and family entertainment.

Mullewa Muster and Rodeo

1 June

Come join the fun of the the Mullewa Muster and rodeo. throughout the day there will be the National ABCrA Full Points rodeo with the highest paying prize money in the state. there will be a ute Muster Competition with heaps of prizes to be won, plenty of food and refreshments, stalls and entertainment for all to see and enjoy, all day and all night long. McAlister Kemp will perform at a Country Music Concert in the evening.

Pinjarra Festival

1 June to 2 June

the Pinjarra Festival is an annual arts and cultural event in one of Western Australia’s oldest towns and celebrates the Murray region’s rural lifestyle and activities. the historic Edenvale Precinct sets the scene for the Pinjarra Festival, offering a weekend of local produce, sport, arts and crafts and entertainment for the whole family.Please refer to the website for more information.

2013 British and Irish Lions Tour:

Emirates Western Force versus

British and Irish Lions 5 June

the long awaited 2013 Australian rugby union British and Irish Lions tour kicks off against the Western Force in Perth. one of the most iconic sporting teams in the world, the Lions are drawn from the best players in England, Ireland, Wales and scotland and tour Australia just once every 12 years. this will be a sporting event you don’t want to miss.

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Good Life

WASO - Debussy, Haydn and Poulenc

7 June to 8 June

Join the West Australian symphony orchestra and the WAso Chorus for an evening of sublime, mesmerizing music. Perth’s own sara Macliver features in the rich tapestry of Francis Poulenc’s orchestral and choral masterpiece Gloria, while dutch cellist Pieter Wispelwey will delight the audience with performances of Haydn’s elegant and tranquil second Cello Concerto. opening with debussy’s enchanting Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun, this delightful and varied program will be led by internationally-renowned French conductor Yan Pascal tortelier.

Bendigo Bank Dunsborough Bay

Fun Run

9 June

Enjoy a great way to start your sunday with a 10 kilometre run or a five kilometre walk or run along the pristine dunsborough Geographe Bay foreshore which takes in all the best views of the bay. the second Bendigo Bank dunsborough Fun run is on again after the overwhelming success of last year’s event of 700 participants, both local and outside the community, to help raise funds to support local charities.

For more information about Western Australian events, visit westernaustralia.com.

Funny Bonefascinating facts about our language

the word ‘stewardesses’ is the longest word that can be typed with only the left hand, and ‘lollipop’ is the longest word that can be typed with your right hand.

Funnily enough, the word ‘typewriter’ is also the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the typewriter keyboard.

No word in the English language rhymes with month, orange, silver, or purple.

there are only four words in the English language which end in ‘dous’, they are tremendous, horrendous, stupendous, and hazardous.

there are two words in the English language that have all five vowels in order: ‘abstemious’ and ‘facetious’.

the words ‘racecar,’ ‘kayak’ ‘desserts’ and ‘level’ are all examples of the many palindromes that occur in the English language, meaning they are the same whether they are read left to right or right to left.

Phrases too can be palindromes, like ‘do geese see God’, ‘rats live on no evil star’ and funniest of all, ‘dammit I’m mad!’.

We wonder how many of our readers will relate to this story!

the husband of a couple living in a retirement village is concerned that his wife is becoming hard of hearing, so he decides to conduct a little test to establish just how deaf she is.

While he’s sitting watching the 6 o’clock news on tV, his wife is busy in the kitchen with her back to him preparing dinner. He decide to ask her in his normal speaking voice what she is cooking and if she doesn’t hear him, to edge closer and closer and repeat the question until she does.

“darling, what are you cooking for dinner?” he asks. there is no reply so he gets up from his chair and moves a little closer. “sweetheart, that smells great, what are you cooking?” Again there is a stony silence, so he edges closer still and asks yet again. still there’s no reply which prompts him to ponder that his wife’s deafness is a lot worse than he first thought. As a last resort, he sneaks into the kitchen and stands right behind her and asks, “darling what are you making for dinner?” to which his wife replies, “For the fourth damned time – CHICKEN!”

there comes a time when a woman just has to trust her husband...

A wife comes home late at night and not wishing to disturb her sleeping husband, quietly opens their bedroom door. In the dimly lit room she can make out that under the blankets there are two pairs of legs instead of just one.

she stealthily reaches into her husband’s wardrobe and grabs his cricket bat and starts hitting the blanket as hard as she can.

Leaving the covered bodies groaning she goes to the kitchen to recover from her shock and gather her thoughts over a cup of tea. As she enters, she spots her husband at the dining table, reading a magazine.

“Hi darling”, he says. “Your parents have come to visit us, so l let them stay in our bedroom... did you say ‘hello’?”

FroM sWANBourNENewsSwanbourne Christmas & New Year Celebrationson Friday 7th december the residents and staff at the Beaumont gathered in the village community centre to celebrate Christmas and the year that was! Arcadia Group managing director, roger Kwok and his wife Catherine came along to join the celebrations and mingle with the crowd.

It was a delightful cocktail party with everyone in great spirits, enjoying the plentiful array of food and drinks and the entertainment from a great and very talented one-man-band called tony.

The Beaumont Chatter Box‘Louie’ is a very friendly and much loved grey cockatiel who lives close to the Beaumont village café. His owner, Peg Carboni, says he is very popular with all the residents and thrives on social interaction. No matter what time of day it is, Louie talks to everyone who happens to wander by but he saves his favourite phrases for Peg. He tells her “I love you” and asks “what you doing?” He enjoys a good wolf whistle too and is one of the many pets owned by residents at the village.

The Beaumont annual family dinnerEach year the residents at the Beaumont in swanbourne invite their family to join them for dinner in the village clubhouse. the delightful three-course dinner was prepared by Chef reiner just before Christmas over which everyone chatted and later mingled with their fellow guests. A highlight of the evening was an impromptu piano performance by Brett Carboni, the son of village resident Peg Carboni.

Peg carboni with

her pet cockatiel

‘louie’ who enjoys

a chat with all the

residentsSome of the residents and their visiting families

enjoying a fabulous dinner in the clubhouse

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residents enjoying the traditional Lion dance ceremony to bring the village good luck in the coming year

Following the ceremony, everyone retired to the clubhouse for a Chinese dinner

on a balmy summer’s evening on sunday 10th February the residents of the Beaumont, the luxurious boutique retirement village in swanbourne (now part of Arcadia Communities), were treated to the magnificent spectacle of a traditional Lion dance to mark the start of the Chinese New Year.

According to legend, the origins of the Lion dance can be traced back through generations to a time when a mythical beast called a ‘Nian’ (meaning year in Chinese) would come and attack villagers at the same time every year. the villagers asked for the help of a great colourful lion spirit, who came and drove the Nian away with much noise. this was so suc-cessful that every year since then the lion dance is performed to the sounds of drums and symbols frighten away evil spirits and bring luck in the New Year.

Following the Lion dance the managing director of Arcadia Communities, roger Kwok, thanked the assembled crowd of around 75 residents and guests for attending and then took the opportunity to recognise two residents who were both celebrating their tenth year in their respective villages. to mark the occasion he presented Winfred Bissett of swanbourne and Kay Pen-dennis of Maddington with a beautiful a gift of a pearl necklace and matching earrings.

Following the celebrations and to finish off the evening in style, everyone was invited to enjoy some refreshments and a traditional Chinese meal in the village clubhouse.

Swanbourne celebrates Chinese New Year in style

2 bedroom apartment $620,000Arcadia Waters Swanbourne – The Beaumont

the home at a glance

design: type ‘A’

Size: 91.4sqm

Bedrooms: 2

Bathrooms: 1

toilets: 1

Garage: Single undercroft

Study: no

Balcony: 12.8sqm

one of only 55 secure apartments in a fabulous location close to subia-co and Claremont with some fabulous local shops and the swanbourne railway station on your doorstep. this east facing, second floor apart-ment has been refurbished and presents exceptionally well. Features include is a well-appointed kitchen and a spacious living area leading to a large balcony. Quality drapes and all light fittings are also included.

For details of the available apartments at

The Beaumont or to arrange an inspection

call Alison on 9286 0500 or visit our website at:

sWANBourNE FEAturEd HoME

the swan Valley is home to some of Australia’s best kept wine secrets, so spending a leisurely day or weekend here is a wonderful way to expand your appreciation of this region’s marvellous wines. It is literally buzzing with a growing number of cellar doors, restaurants and cafes to explore.

the swan Valley is Australia’s most compact wine region and has that lived-in feel as people go about their daily work. the vineyards are as old as European settlement, just a year after the swan river Colony was established by Captain James stirling in 1829, botanist thomas Waters planted vines at olive Farm on the banks of the river, not far from Guildford.

the two largest wineries in the swan Valley were established in the mid-19th century. In 1840, WA’s first surveyor-General, John septimus roe, was given a grant of 500 hectares and planted vines at sandalford. the other is Houghton’s and although the vineyard was planted in the late 1830s, its first commercial vintage wasn’t until after dr John Ferguson bought the property

in 1859. It flourished under his son Charles (CW), who extended the area under vine, and it remained in the family until 1950.

there was major expansion of the swan Valley following the arrival of soldier settlers and displaced Yugoslav migrants after World War I. Most of the holdings they established were small family concerns and their vines produced fortified and table wines for personal or local consumption. these families remain at its core – and represent the heartbeat of the swan Valley.

Before the 1970s, 80% of the swan Valley produce was forti-fied and 20% was made into table wine. that situation has since been reversed when much of the vineyard land in the swan was replanted with varieties more suited to table wine production. this, together with modern technological developments, has led to substantial improvements in quality in the past 20 years.

Apart from those lured by its proximity to Perth, not many paid much attention to the improved wines of the swan Valley. James Halliday commented in 1982, “Few (wineries) have anything

A weekender’s guide to the wines of the Swan Valley

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the chinese dragons

(left) and the pearl

necklace and matching

earrings (below) given

to Winfred Bissett of

Swanbourne and Kay

Pen-dennis of

maddington.

Good Life

better than basic tasting facilities and one can drive all day on a saturday without being able to buy so much as a packet of chips or an ice-cream.” Nothing much changed until the mid-1990s when a new generation of wineries opened seeking to produce higher quality wines and entice customers with chic restaurants and by operating stylish cellar doors.

today, besides the excellent vineyards, there is now a chocolate factory, an ice-cream cafe, a maze, mini-golf, a reptile park, and numerous cafes and breweries.

Planning your journey

there are two major decisions you’ll need to consider before planning a jaunt to the swan Valley: what days of the week you should choose and where to stay if you decide on something longer than a day-trip. the weekends have an advantage in that everything is open, although that should be weighed with the fact that the crowds come out on the most popular days of the week.

this itinerary has been planned so that you can follow it over the weekends or during the week – but not on Mondays. Alternatively you can ‘cherry-pick’ the destinations and just make a day of it.

Where to stay

If you intend to stay for a few days and fancy a brush with celebrity, then stay at the stocks Country retreat (26 Boulonnais dr, Brigadoon, 08 9296 1945), the former home of shadows guitarist Hank Marvin. this tudor styled home has been

fourth year running, they tucked a host of awards into their belt at the Australian International Beer Awards.

to finish the day, there’s just one appointment to keep. John Griffiths’ Faber Vineyard (233 Haddrill rd, Baskerville, 08 9296 0619). It is open only on sundays from 11am to 4pm but John will be happy to host you if you ring for an appointment. Faber wines are among the valley’s best. Most impressive are the reserve shiraz (which needs time), the riche (deliciously approachable), the Petit Verdot (which Griffiths is rightly championing) and the potent swan Verdelho.

If you still have the energy, whizz out to master craftsman Antonio Battistessa’s studio (12 Neuman rd, Herne Hill, 08 9296 4121). Battistessa is an artist who uses forged iron as his medium. You’ll probably need a quiet night. If you are staying in the valley, try the state’s longest-running roadside hamburger joint: Alfred’s Kitchen (cnr Meadow and James streets, Guildford, 08 9377 1378). the wood fires are alight every night to show that Alfred’s is open for business. specialties are pea soup and a huge range of sumptuous burgers.

that suit the swan and is doing well with tempranillo and Petit Verdot.

After the tasting, it’s a five-metre stroll over to Broads. the food is consistently fresh, seasonal, uncomplicated and delicious with a stylish modern twist offered in a selection of tapas, tasting plates and desserts, complimented with upper reach wines and boutique beers. the setting is picture-postcard perfect as the cafe looks out over the vineyard and the river.

Broads is closed on tuesday and Wednesday, in which case lunch is at your next port of call, sittella (100 Barrett st, Herne Hill, 08 9296 2600). Here you can choose from the set menu or the more extensive a la carte selection and relax on the deck with views over a picturesque section of the valley. the classy cellar door has been one to set the tone for the region. of particular note for visitors are the Berns reserve Cabernet sauvignon and the Verdelho.

After lunch, why not turn your palate to tasting some award winning hand-crafter beers at the Feral Brewing Company (152 Haddrill road, Baskerville, 08 9296 4657). over the past four years the Feral Brewing Company has risen to become one of the most awarded breweries in Australia. In 2012 and for the

operating as a B&B for several years and has three four-poster king-sized bedroom suites and double spas as well as an attractive garden, a thermally heated swimming pool and a tennis court for you to enjoy.

At the cheaper end of the scale there is Perth Vineyards Holiday Park (91 Benara road Caversham, Freecall 1800 679 992), Here you will find shaded and powered camp sites, modern cabins, a recreation room and a swimming pool.

Day 1

there are some very good reasons to begin your journey at Mann Winery (105 Memorial Ave, Baskerville, 08 9296 4348) for some bubbly and a dose of local history or local colour. With his father, Houghton’s Jack Mann, dorham

Mann was one of six who were recently named as the initial icons of the swan Valley. It’s an opportunity to taste some refreshing sparkling wines and the warmth of the welcome will be one of the abiding memories of your visit.

Winning the trophy for Best Exhibitor at the 2010 swan Valley show entitles upper reach Winery (77 Memorial Ave, Baskerville, 08 9296 0078) to bragging rights. You can stay here too, in a comfortable two-bedroom 1907 weatherboard cottage which has polished jarrah floorboards, a spa bath, and all the facilities for self-catering and the tranquillity.

their best wines are the shiraz and Verdelho, although their Cabernet sauvignon and reserve Chardonnay are surprise packets. Winemaker derek Pearse pushes the boundaries, seeking to find new varieties

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Day 2

After breakfast, head for Yahava Koffeeworks (4752 West swan rd, swan Valley, 08 9250 8599), which has the best range of coffee in the valley. It is an awesome place to take interstate visitors, as it also showcases some of Perth’s finest gourmet produce.

Just down the road is Heafod Glen (8691 West swan rd, Henley Brook, 08 9296 3444), which has a purpose-built cellar door in an attractive garden setting. the large Chesters restaurant specialises in wines from its four-hectare estate vineyard, and winemaker Liam Clarke has shown that he is a dab hand especially with Viognier, Verdelho and Chardonnay.

then it’s off to see a well-established family winery: Pinelli (30 Bennett st, Caversham, 08 9279 6818). the quality of the wines is supported by their show record in recent years. Best of all, their prices remain modest. Established by domenic Pinelli in 1980 who still works in the family vineyards, the glory these days is stolen by his sons, robert and daniel, both of whom are qualified winemakers. Look for the Breanna rosé, the Verdelho, and the aged tawny and the shiraz.

After visiting Pinelli, it’s a short trek to sandalford (3210 West swan rd, Caversham, 08 9374 9374) for a tasting and lunch. Its importance to tourism can scarcely be understated – with contributions from cellar door, the restaurant, and major concerts by the likes of Michael Bublé, sting and robin Gibb. It’s a magnificent building with abundant natural light, stylish use

of natural woods, and a fabulous array of gift ideas. Executive chef Phil thomas’s food is the most impressive of the swan Valley’s winery restaurants and an ideal accompaniment to the sandalford wine range.

there are tastings for the teetotaller too! the Margaret river Chocolate Company (5123 West swan road, 08 9250 1588) is located a little further along West swan road. Here you will get a fascinating insight into the world of chocolate, with an abundance of free chocolate tastings and viewing windows to watch the chocolate products being made. It is open from 9am-5pm every day of the year except Christmas day.

If you also fancy checking out some of the local Aboriginal art, there’s no better place than the Maalinup Aboriginal Gallery (10070 West swan rd, Henley Brook, 08 9296 0711). the gallery, gift shop and cultural centre are features paintings and artefacts such as boomerangs, clap sticks and didgeridoos.

to finish the day on a high note, it’s off to the West’s first cellar and winery (1830), olive Farm Wines (920 Great Northern Highway, Millendon, 08 9296 4539). Its new incarnation includes an enthusiastic winemaker, Anthony, and a clever architect, Michael, who designed the winery and beautiful cellar door where you’ll see clever use of Karratha-stone feature walls, a polished- concrete floor and a jarrah top to the tasting bench.

Good Life

Day 3

First stop is the family winery, Lamont’s (85 Bisdee rd, Millendon, 08 9296 4485), which has been the valley’s most important destination for food and wine for most of the past 20 years. the cellar door, cafe and alfresco areas are open from Friday to Monday (10am to 5pm) as Fiona Lamont continues the tradition of providing fresh seasonal produce with a compact menu of small platters. Winemaker digby Leddin works to ensure that Lamont’s stays in the upper bracket of swan Valley producers.

talijancich, which is just down the road (26 Hyem rd, Herne Hill, 08 9296 4289), is unquestionably the swan Valley’s premier producer of fortifieds – with five gold and one silver out of six entries into this year’s local show. three generations of wine making are behind the reputation of talijancich Wines, which was established in 1932 and over the past few years, James talijancich has extended his range of fortifieds and made wines of sublime quality.

A visit to Houghton (dale rd, Middle swan, 08 9274 9540) is important because of the winery’s role in the region’s history; the most picturesque and large lawns and gardens in the swan that attract a legion of picnickers most days; and there is a magnificent new cellar door and café, ideal for a light lunch.

Jane Brook is the best place to go in the valley on the weekend if you want to have fun and it has long been popular for its platter lunches. Jane Brook also has vineyards in Margaret river and source some whites from the Perth Hills. they make three bubblies by the traditional method. other favourites include the Atkinson Family reserve shiraz and their fortifieds.

to wrap up your visit to the region you cannot ignore its finest restaurant, dear Friends (100 Benara rd, Caversham, 08 9279 2815). It is rated number three in the state by the current Australian Gourmet traveller restaurant Guide. try the dégustation menu which is available Wednesday to saturday for dinner and at lunches on saturday and sunday.

What to bring home

Besides your favourite wines, buy a jar of jarrah honey from Quick stop on West swan road, it is delicious!

What to splash out on

Get yourself a bottle of sparkling Gold from Jane Brook Estate Wines — a bubbly made in the traditional methode champenoise style and injected with 23-carat gold leaf from the Perth Mint. C’est magnifique!

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“i’ve future-proofed my retirement lifestyle”Let’s face it; none of us can predict what the future holds. While you are probably

living a healthy and active lifestyle today, you never know how your circumstances

might change later on.

At Arcadia Waters we cater for both the present and the future with things like

world-class resort facilities to enjoy today and the peace-of-mind of knowing you

can access a range of optional in-home care services that you might need tomorrow.

Even our modern homes are all subtly designed to accommodate changing needs.

It means you can look forward to living life to the full in a supportive, secure and

friendly community. In fact, once you move to Arcadia Waters you’ll probably never

have to worry about moving ever again.

“To say I like living at Arcadia Waters is an understatement. It is fantastic! I’ve made a lot of friends and even had first-hand experience of the excellent emergency call system. It is reassuring to know someone’s there 24-hours a day if you need them.”

for information on Arcadia Waters in the following

locations, or to arrange an inspection, please call:

maddington: ........................9452 9400Swanbourne: ........................9286 0500mandurah: ...........................9550 4600Geraldton & Port denison: ....9921 3033

e V e ry t h i n G yo u n e e d to e n j oy A l u x u r i o u S r e S o rt l i f e S t y l e

m A d d i n G to n S WA n B o u r n e m A n d u r A h G e r A l d to n P o rt d e n i S o n

www.arcadiagroup.com.au