THE EDGE¨

AUG/SEPT 2018

PETAL POWEROur resort is a bloomin’ spectacle ahead of the Carnival of Flowers

TWENTY BELOW

It might be cool outside but our hot winter promotion will really warm up your world!

WE ARE WINNERS!

Toowoomba Pinnacle wins coveted industry award

Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba residents are definitely a pet-friendly bunch. But did you know there are also a number of pup-friendly local cafes that you can take your beloved four-legged fur babies to, for a visit?

The Park House Café 92 Margaret St, Toowoomba The Chocolate Cottage 10475 New England Hwy, Highfields The Finch 2/469-473 Ruthven St, Toowoomba Piccolo Papa 4/52 High St, Rangeville Extraordinary Joe 102 Taylor St, Toowoomba Red Bench Café 62 Margaret St, Toowoomba The Bungalow and Basket 4/400 Ruthven St, Toowoomba

A U G / S E P T

WHAT’S HAPPENING¨

WELCOME TO TOOWOOMBA

Winter has definitely brought us some fresh frosts to start the day, but things generally warm up quickly with the help of that beautiful winter sun. The added bonus of our winters here on the Range are those most spectacular sunsets at day’s end. They are breathtaking. If you are still cold though, the fireplace at the Pinnacle Country Club is the place to get cozy whilst enjoying a warm coffee with new-found friends.

Stage 4 is now boasting its first home frames, which are popping up quickly. At the time of publication of this newsletter, more slabs were being poured in Stage 4’s Silky Oak Avenue. Interest in our resort has been constant, with many deposits placed in this area, which is proving popular because of its proximity to the Pinnacle Country Club.

When you build a Palm Lake Resort home with us, if you are in early enough (prior to the slab being poured), you are able to be involved in colour selections to truly put your own bespoke stamp on your new home. It’s an exciting time: watching your home evolve and looking forward to the new lifestyle that awaits you here.

Don’t forget our next event is a jazz afternoon on August 22. Seats are filling fast, so don’t forget to RSVP on 1800 280 129.

Leisa, Mark, Libby & Natalie Sales team

SENIORS WEEK IS HERE

Queensland Seniors Week (August 18-26) provides opportunities to promote positive community attitudes towards older people and ageing, facilitate community participation and enhance community connections, aligning with the Queensland Government’s and Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland’s vision of building age-friendly communities in Queensland. Seniors Week will connect communities, provide opportunities for people to share and learn new experiences, while helping seniors discover new local services and support. To find out what events are being held in our local area during Seniors Week, visit www.qldseniorsweek.org.au

Make sure you put this event in your diary and come along to our special ‘All that Jazz’ event…

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 22, 1-3PM

• Live jazz tunes • Complimentary afternoon tea and barista-made coffee• Personal tours through our gorgeous display homes

and world-class Pinnacle Country Club.

RSVP ESSENTIAL Freecall 1800 280 129 or email us at salestoowoomba@palmlake.com.au

COMING FROM OUT OF TOWN? Freecall 1800 280 129 to arrange a complimentary night’s accommodation on us (conditions apply).

GET YOUR GROOVE ON!

ENJOY A MOVIE – ON US!

Can you smell the hot, buttered popcorn? Yes, it’s movie time! You’re invited to a FREE movie screening in our luxury resort cinema. Simply let the Sales Centre know you are coming by calling 1800 280 129. Here’s what’s showing:

August 29 Murder on the Orient Express September 26 The Bucket List

PET FRIENDLY LOCAL CAFES

PINNACLE WINS COVETED LOCAL INDUSTRY AWARDS!

Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba’s opulent Pinnacle Country Club has just been named best Sporting Facility by the Master Builders Association.

The win was announced at the Master Builders Association’s Downs & Western Housing and Construction Awards at Rumours International Convention Centre as this newsletter went to press.

Topping off a great night for Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba Pinnacle, general manager of sales Sue Baldwin was also presented a ‘Women in Building’ award.

Master Builders’ Downs & Western regional manager Linda Rosengreen congratulated Palm Lake Resort and all the category winners.

“The calibre of homes, projects and people entered in this year’s awards program was extremely impressive,” Linda says. “The winners in the commercial categories have completed projects that will have a positive impact on the local community now and into the future.”

Linda says the winning projects really celebrate the beauty and diversity of the region, “which is a credit to everyone involved”.

PALM LAKE GROUP’S MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION AWARD WINS:

• Sporting Facilities – Palmlake Works Pty Ltd for Pinnacle Country Club

• Women in Building – Sue Baldwin from Palmlake Works Pty Ltd

LOCATED ON A SWEEPING CORNER, IN THE MOST ELEVATED POSITION AT PALM LAKE RESORT TOOWOOMBA, THIS UNIQUE HOME IS LOW MAINTENANCE AND THE VERY LAST OFFERING THIS COVETED DESIGN.

The Ballandean features two bedrooms and a study. You can see the television from the kitchen bench with the dining suite and lounge area offering many different possibilities for furniture placement. The master bedroom is oversized and will cater for the largest bedroom suite and a lounge chair - you could almost call it a retreat. You will be impressed by the Caesarstone benchtops, walk-in pantry and Smeg

appliances (including a microwave and dishwasher). The fully ducted air conditioning system goes hand in hand with the 3 kilowatts of solar panels on the roof. The picture is completed by the spacious double lock-up garage with epoxy flooring and loads of storage throughout. It’s a short walk to the security gate that offers easy access to the bus stop directly across the road taking you to Grand Central Shopping Centre and beyond.

This stunning villa is waiting for your inspection. You can contact the sales team on freecall 1800 280 129. As an added bonus, this home also qualifies for our Twenty Below promotion (see Page 8 for details).

BEAUTIFUL BALLANDEAN¨

COLOUR POP ̈NEUTRAL COLOUR PALETTES ARE TRÉS CHIC AND PRACTICAL WHEN IT COMES TO INTERIORS. BUT IT’S ALSO GOOD TO INJECT SOME PERSONALITY WITH A BOLD COLOUR POP, LIKE TEAL, THAT FEATURES IN OUR BEAUTIFUL BALLANDEAN DISPLAY HOME. HERE’S HOW.

Bobby armchair, $749, www.schots.com.au Rug Republic rug, from $66.95, www.zanui.com.au

Recycled glass bottle vase, $99.95, www.zanui.com.au Aurelia II framed art print, from $130, www.karibouartco.com.au

Satara spun bamboo salad bowls set, $90, www.satara.com.au

HAPPY HOUR

Situated in the heart of the world-famous Granite Belt wine region, Toowoomba is a haven for wine buffs and those novices wanting to learn more. Making the most of its prime position in one of Australia’s best wine regions, did you know Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba Pinnacle comes equipped with an impressive wine cellar?

A Palm Lake Group first, the Toowoomba wine cellar was designed with resident wine buffs in mind. It includes a wine-barrel-turned-table with plenty of seating for hosting wine tastings, and it has capacity to store several hundred bottles, ensuring the panoramic Country Club bar is stocked with some fine regional and international wines at all times.

“We have everything we need to have a great bar and wine collection right here, so myself and the other volunteers at the bar are very excited,” says Lloyd Atkins, treasurer of the Residents’ Association. “As more new residents move into the Pinnacle resort, we’re hoping to see enthusiasm about the bar increase even more. The clubhouse itself is absolutely magnificent – I’d say it’s the best venue in Toowoomba.”

Held from September 21 to 30, the 2018 Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers will feature a program of more than 60 unique events and experiences, including beautiful garden tours, internationally acclaimed music acts, some of the region’s best food and wine, and a multitude of cultural adventures.

Here at Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba, we have spent months gearing up for the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers. We’ve changed the front entry roundabout at Misty Ridge and planted lots and lots of seedlings throughout the resort gardens to bring timely carnival colour to our location. We have entered our resort grounds in the Hospital, Nursing Homes & Retirement Villages category of the carnival competition and there are also a handful of residents, including the bloomin’ clever Betty Sullivan (Villa 197), who will enter their own gardens this year. Keep your eyes peeled for our next newsletter and the result of our gardening efforts!

As if petal power was not enough, in an historic move, the Carnival of Flowers has launched “Petals & Pups” – its official dog-friendly program, completely dedicated to hounds and their humans and in salute of Toowoomba’s first Canine Ambassador, ‘Puppy’ the Pomeranian. Dogs have actually been a part of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers for a long time. At the very first Carnival parade in 1950, the Toowoomba Thistle Band’s drum major, Hugh Morgan, set the benchmark with his tartan-clad pooch ‘Puppy’ marching alongside the ensemble. Today a statue commemorating ‘Puppy’ stands at the iconic Picnic Point that overlooks Toowoomba’s scenic panorama of the Great Dividing Range. Boasting more than 30 dog-friendly activities and 27 off-leash parks, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers’ Petals & Pups program is absolutely ‘pawsome’!

Full program and tour information can be found online at www.tcof.com.au

THE TOOWOOMBA CARNIVAL OF FLOWERS IS BACK FOR ANOTHER BRIGHT, COLOURFUL AND FLORALLY FRAGRANT YEAR. BUT THIS TIME AROUND, EVENT ORGANISERS WANT YOU TO INVITE YOUR BEST FRIEND TOO.

FROM PETALS TO POOCHES¨

Above, One of last year’s spectacular Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba residential

gardens, entered in the Carnival of Flowers.

AROUND THE GROUNDS ̈YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED Our recent information session provided loads of opportunities for interested guests to find out more about the luxury lifestyle on offer here at Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba as well as the Palm Lake Care aged caring community planned for next door.

LET’S GET SOCIAL ̈Research is now revealing that people who live in “cluster residential housing” mostly experience a better quality of life. Well, I think we already knew that, didn’t we? I’m sure that the majority of us who have made our home here at Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba agree. Perhaps it’s because this is not only our home, but we are a community and we experience the benefits of supporting each other.

The events we, as your Social Club, organise are always well supported - we appreciate that and we also appreciate those who volunteer to help with events. As usual the last couple of months have been busy. We recently had day trips by bus to Esk and Crows Nest. Both these delightful towns have art galleries, museums and coffee shops to explore. On a trip to our local Op Shops, we found that some of us were unable to resist a bargain, even though we all agree that we do not need any more ‘stuff’. Cobb & Co Museum is always good value, and their current display of Da Vinci’s Machines was fascinating. We had the best scones for morning tea, but the cooks would not part with their recipe! We also had a good attendance at our bimonthly Sunday lunch. There was good food, good entertainment from our own Peter Kavanagh, and good company. We’ve also enjoyed entertainment from Spice of Life and some good advice at our monthly Meet and Greet morning teas, from Australian Hearing and our own Palm Lake Care (see photos, left). Despite the cold evenings, some residents came out to see State of Origin on the big screens. An added inducement was that the bar was open and hot food was available.

The highlight of these last couple of months though, was the ‘Palm Lake Has Talent’ Concert. This was suggested by a couple of residents and we took it on board, not knowing how it would progress. Well, it exceeded our expectations! There was an excited “buzz” at the Pinnacle Country Club long before the concert was set to begin. In two hours, we were entertained by comedy, bush poetry, our Ukulele and Singing Groups, other individuals and even ballroom dancing. A couple of our ladies invited their Senior Jazzy Tappers group. Their tap dancing was great and added sparkle to our night. We were sorry that we only had limited time for our own Jim Williams and his band to entertain us. Maybe this concert will become an annual event? With lots more residents making their home here, we’re sure there is more talent not yet discovered. There are some special events planned for the next couple of months and I’m looking forward to telling you about them next time. Until then, stay safe and happy.

Betty McCredden Social Club president

CARETAKERS’ REPORT ̈Cool nights and brilliant sunsets are what Toowoomba presents up on the Range at this time of year.

Residents and staff have been grooming for the Carnival of Flowers. Have we entered? Of course we have! Are we proud of our efforts - just look around and you will see our seedlings have been nurtured into clusters of colour throughout the resort. If you haven’t been to see what Toowoomba presents in spring, put it on your bucket list. You won’t be disappointed. In fact a lot of people living here at Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba will tell you it’s a great place to live!

Each month, our wonderful Social Club and volunteers support a morning tea for residents to gather to greet our newcomers. This event is on the first Friday of the month and usually is supported by a guest speaker. In July, Jacinta Sutton from Palm Lake Care gave a very informative talk on the future Aged Care development here at Toowoomba. Our clubhouse was filled with interest and everyone left well informed and impressed

by Jacinta’s presentation. Already there is talk of wanting to see her on her next visit to Toowoomba. There’s always something of interest happening within our resort.

You also don’t have to worry about new technology. We have commenced regular Smeg training for you to learn your appliances. Recently residents have attended training in Brisbane at the Smeg head office learning how to operate their appliances. Bookings are

essential - one person per villa. We will notify when and where the next available training sessions are on. Keep an eye out for the weekly newsletter for when the next booking sheet will be available.

There is plenty to participate in, so embrace and enjoy living independently here at Palm Lake Resort Toowoomba. Just ask us.

Jan & Brendan Resort caretakers

IT’S NICE TO BE NICE ̈IT WAS GANDHI WHO SAID, “THE BEST WAY TO FIND YOURSELF IS TO LOSE YOURSELF IN THE SERVICE OF OTHERS.” AND IT TURNS OUT, HE WAS ONTO SOMETHING – THERE ARE SOME REAL SCIENTIFIC BENEFITS THAT COME WHEN YOU GIVE UP YOUR TIME TO HELP SOMEONE IN NEED.

Believe it or not, humans are one of the most altruistic species in existence, which explains why so many of us give up our time to volunteer. And our Palm Lake Resorts seem to attract those volunteering types. You’ll find our residents volunteering to assist at all our resort events (eg. running the bar, serving food and even helping to clean up after everyone’s gone). They are authentically glad to assist newcomers to our resort communities or anytime there’s an extra set of hands required.

Volunteering is a kind of ‘prosocial behaviour’ (ie. when you do something that benefits others, or society as a whole) and there are a bunch of evolutionary theories that suggest how this came to be – natural selection, for example, suggests that without helping others, even those who aren’t our kin, has benefited our survival as a species. But why does it feel so good to do good for others, beyond just our basic instincts? Well, as Tania McMahon from Benchmark Psychology explains, there is a lot of research to suggest that prosocial behaviours are strongly linked to positive mood.

“In a well-known study at Harvard University, it was found that participants assigned to spend money on others experienced greater positive feelings than those assigned to spend money on themselves,” Tania explains. “The relationship is self-reinforcing as well – helping others makes you feel good, but feeling good also makes you want to help others more.”

Research also shows that prosocial behaviours like volunteering can have a positive impact on self-esteem, life satisfaction and our overall mental health. A number of current psychological therapies focus on helping clients take action to pursue activities that align with their own

personal values, to help improve their wellbeing and help them live a more rich and meaningful life.

“Volunteering provides a unique opportunity to connect with one’s values, no matter what they might be,” Tania says. “For example, someone who values music and the arts might volunteer at a community theatre; someone who values nutrition and healthy food might volunteer in a kitchen providing food for the homeless; someone who values social connection and helping others might volunteer as a mentor for a youth group.”

So, it seems that when you volunteer, you don’t just do good unto others – you do yourself some good, too.

GoVolunteer is an initiative of Volunteering Australia. The website’s aim is to match people who are interested in volunteering with appropriate volunteering opportunities in their local community. It uses a national database of volunteering opportunities. For more information about where you can volunteer in the Toowoomba area, simply visit www.govolunteer.com.au

WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER?