This year RetireAustralia’s Tarragal Glen retirement village celebrates the stay of their perennial resident, Joan Walpole, on her 29th year of happily residing at the Erina village.
Joan first moved to Tarragal Glen with her husband Ray on the 12th of January 1989, after deciding it was time to make a leisurely change to their lifestyle after over six decades of living and working on farms.
“When we came here, I’d never lived anywhere but on my father’s farm and then on our farm at Kulnura, and I immediately enjoyed it,” she said.
In all her time at home in the village, she has seen the development of land purchased for additional villas, the formation of an essential residents’ committee, and a bridge added to the latest refurbishment, built over the nearby creek.
“The first manager would drive us to Terrigal Beach at 7am to swim or walk, and then the swimming pool was finished.”
Completion of the Country Club in 1990 was another major accomplishment for the village, as it meant that regular dinner evenings and social get-togethers had a permanent home.
“We were then able to do so much more,” Joan said.
Since it’s opening the Tarragal Glen Country Club brought together residents, their friends and families for many noteworthy events and celebrations; several 100th birthday parties, Anzac and Armistice Day services, successful charity fundraisers, and even Joan’s golden wedding anniversary.
She hasn’t been shy over the years, partaking in a variety of the activities on offer at the village, even serving as a member of the resident’s social committee for 13 years.
“I was a mad lawn bowler for 50 years, I have enjoyed the friendship afternoon for the ladies, and the coffee club is a great thing,” she said.
“A retirement village is what you make it – you can mix or stay private.”
As it is her 29th anniversary, and the fact she is the village’s longest-standing resident, residents and staff at Tarragal Glen are celebrating with her, and Joan believes she is enjoying life just as much as she did in 1989.
“I can’t see why anybody wouldn’t love to live here,” she said.
