Author: Linda Kadel

It’s Spring and time to take the party outdoors.  Take advantage of local and fresh seasonal produce with this menu for the perfect Springtime Soiree – perfect for your backyard or take a picnic to your favourite outdoor park.

1. APRICOT SUNRAY PUNCH – GOOD FOR MAKING IN ADVANCE!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 bottle cognac
• 1 bottle sparkling wine
• 3 cups apricot liqueur
• 1 1/2 cups apricot nectar
• 1 1/2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice, from 6 to 7 lemons
• 4 cups freshly squeezed blood orange juice, from 12 blood oranges
• 4 to 6 apricots, thinly sliced
• 5 lemons, thinly sliced
• 1 blood orange, thinly sliced
• 12 cherries

Method:

In a large punch bowl or pitcher, add all of the ingredients and stir with ice.

 

2. MORETON BAY BUG ROLLS WITH SPICY MAYONNAISE

Makes: 6 rolls
Prep time: 10-15 min

Ingredients:

• 3 cooked Moreton Bay bugs
• 2 cups iceberg lettuce, shredded
• 2 tbsp whole egg mayonnaise
• 2 tbsp crème fraiche
• 1 tsp Moroccan spice (*see below)
• 6 small dinner rolls, cut in half

Method:

1. Remove the meat from the Moreton Bay bug shells and slice or shred.
2. To make the spicy mayonnaise, add the whole egg mayonnaise, crème fraiche and spice mix into a bowl and stir to combine.
3. To assemble the rolls, spread both sides with the spicy mayonnaise, top the bottom half of the roll with the Moreton Bay bug meat and then the shredded lettuce. Sandwich with the roll tops.

*MAKE YOUR OWN MOROCCAN SPICE

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp cumin ground
• 1 tsp cinnamon ground
• 1 tsp ginger ground
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp coriander
• 1 tsp cardamom
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp black pepper ground
• 1/2 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp cayenne

Method:

Combine all the ingredients together and pour into jar or container.

 

3. SIMPLE GREEN SALAD WITH DILL

• 1 bunch Romaine Lettuce (chopped)
• 4 stalks Celery (chopped)
• 1 Cucumber (medium)
• 3 tablespoons  Fresh Dill (chopped)
• 2 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 3 teaspoons Lemon Juice (fresh squeezed)
• ⅛ teaspoon Seasoning Salt (to taste)

Method:

Wash and chop all vegetables and dill, and place in a large bowl. Pour the remaining ingredients over the veggies and toss to coat. Serves 2 as large salads or 4 as side salads.

 

4. DESSERT – FRUIT PARFAITS

Keep it simple and fresh with strawberries and stone fruit! Pick your favourites and chop up and toss with a squeezed lemon half and a couple swigs of Elderberry Cordial.  Top with freshly whipped cream and a mint leaf.  If entertaining at home, serve them in parfait or martini glasses. If it’s a picnic consider reusable mason jars.  Looks beautiful and tastes even better!

When it comes to beautiful outdoor areas, the lifestyle community at Latitude25 is a winner. Their professionally landscaped grounds include a beautiful BBQ area and terrace with stunning views to two lakes and firepit – all available for residents to use for outdoor entertaining.  Plus, the architecturally designed homes feature modern, spacious alfresco areas for entertaining at home in style.

If you’re interested in taking a tour of Latitude25 to see all the benefits of this luxurious lifestyle community contact 1800 025 025 or go to www.visitlatitude25.com.au.

Combining their love of caravan travel with their love of golf, Latitude25 residents Laurie Binstead, Max Robertson and Chris Rogers, collectively known as the Golf Gurus, competed in the 2021 Outback Queensland Masters from 19 June to 25 July this year.

This second annual Masters event was a sell out and spanned an epic 1,900 km across Queensland with competitions in six outback towns.

In preparation for the competition the group practiced utilised the fantastic Latitude25 golf chip/putting green and virtual golf simulator to polish their skills.

Slated as “an extraordinary journey through the landscapes, legends, and hospitality of Outback Queensland” the Golf Gurus, visited each location playing on Saturday and Sunday completing nine holes each day.

 

 

In their travels to each location the Gurus played the Augathella and Tambo golf courses and had an afternoon of belly-laughs at the Chicken Races at the Royal Carrangarra Hotel in Tambo.

Whilst playing on all sorts of landscapes from lush and green to extremely dry, the team enjoyed the journey both on the green, and off.

In addition to golfing, the avid caravanners enjoyed checking out the preserved dinosaur footprints at Lark Quarry (110kms from Winton), as well enjoying the bush poetry at the North Gregory Hotel in Winton and woke to wild brolgas checking out the Caravan Park in Longreach.

 

 

 

In the end, Laurie Binstead brought home the Gold (so to speak!) and was the overall winner of the entire competition winning a $1,000 Drummond Voucher and the eternal fame as the 2021 champion! Chris Rogers was runner up bringing home a $500 Drummond Voucher.

The Hole in one challenge for $10,000 was up for grabs in all the locations and actually went off in Quilpie. The million dollar hole in one in Longreach, on the final day, was available to all the golfers who competed provided they played at least two legs of the competition.
It was a very windy day with some landing on the sand green, however the one million dollar prize for a hole in one remained safe.

 

 

 

It provided an opportunity for the golf gurus and their wives to spend time in many locations in outback Western Queensland visiting varied tourist destinations and enjoying excellent entertainment on Saturday nights organized by the Outback Masters Queensland crew.

The Golf Gurus have already registered for 2022 event, which kicks off in Roma and finishes in Birdsville.

Interested in competing in the 2022 event? Find all the information here https://www.outbackqldmasters.com/schedule-2022/

Your Retirement Options

Whether you chose to downsize your family house, embrace a new lifestyle with like-minded people or simply not have to worry about managing the day-to-day by yourself, there will be the perfect retirement option to suit your needs.

Looking to explore the lifestyle community option? Explore our website on www.visitlatitude25.com.au or call us on 1800 0250 025 for more information and/or to schedule your visit.

If you’re planning to be in the area consider taking advantage of Latitude25’s complimentary two-night stay at one of Hervey Bay’s Beachfront Caravan Parks followed by a tour and talk about Latitude25 – the newest fully planned over 50s lifestyle and secure gated community in sunny Hervey Bay that is fully RV-catered.

These days retirement is a beginning, not an end.  As a result, the evolution of lifestyle communities has developed in response to the desires of current people over 50 who want to maintain an active and vibrant lifestyle for retirement.

These active communities bring together like-minded people and resort-style activities, all in one exclusive location.

With freedom, fun and friendship firmly on the cards, future retirees are making sure their living space reflects where and how they live.

What does the ideal lifestyle community include?

Firstly, highly desirable locations with moderate weather and access to amenities are key.  Many lifestyle communities are popping up with a menu of features that could easily compete with luxury resorts, including:

5-Star Facilities

Lifestyle Community residents enjoy a suite of sporting facilities including heated swimming pools, fully equipped gymnasiums, saunas and jacuzzis, tennis/pickleball courts and bowling greens, to name a few. You’re also spoilt with a selection of weekly fitness classes that can include everything from water aerobics to yoga.

Community Clubhouse

The obligatory OTT (Over The Top) Clubhouse. The central community clubhouse or recreation centre becomes the heart of every desirable lifestyle community. It’s THE spot for residents who want to catch up for a wine, socialise with fellow residents, or entertain guests over an afternoon high tea.

Social Activities

Many over 50s lifestyle communities take village facilities to the next level with specially designed areas catered to pursuing your favourite hobby or learn a new one. From private cinemas to technology lessons, woodwork to meditation classes, you’ll find a diverse range of activities for all interests.

Architectural-designed Housing

You don’t have to ditch style, as lifestyle community provide architecturally designed homes and stylish contemporary bungalows or villas, come complete with modern appointments, ecofriendly and beautifully landscaped spaces plus beautiful nature walks and biking trails.

Putting Wellness First

It’s no secret that the physical and mental health benefits of living in an over 50s lifestyle community is highly beneficial. Active living in a established lifestyle communities creates positive effects such as weight loss, decreased medication and the elimination of any feelings of isolation.

Lock Up & Leave

Best of all, the perfect active lifestyle community for over 50s gives its residents complete freedom to come and go at will with peace of mind that their home and belongings are totally secure awaiting upon their return.

Planning Your Future

With this in mind – planning that retirement move as a “beginning” brings a wealth of excitement and anticipation.

If you are considering your next move, include Latitude25 RV Lifestyle Community.  Latitude25, in sunny Hervey Bay, QLD, is proving that active lifestyle community with a luxury fully planned RV lifestyle gated community catering to discerning over 50s lifestyle enthusiasts in a new vibrant safe community complete with resort-style facilities. For more information on touring the latest release at Latitude25 call 1800 025 025 or www.visitlatitude.com.au.

The freedom of a caravan has never been more enticing.  After a year of restrictions and pottering around home, it’s time to hitch up the caravan for some adventures.

And no one needed COVID-19 to tell us that avoiding the crowds provides a somewhat more satisfying journey.  Make sure your next itinerary includes time to explore under-the-radar Australian destinations – from outback towns and pristine coral reefs to isolated beaches.

Start with the Right Plan

Save the marriage and start by mapping your journey! Arguing over the right way to go is a major cause of holiday (and marital) breakdown so don’t rely on the mapping app on your phone – invest in a good GPS.  With the right plan, you can eliminate wasting time on being lost and leave plenty of time for stops to explore out-of-way areas and meet other nomads along the way. Another excellent resource and inspiration for an “off the beaten track” trip is Latitude25’s handy “Making Our Way” journeys up the Eastern Coast of Australia.  The map contains an itinerary, tips on hot spots and handy information on caravan parks. (insert links to map journeys).

Have a Chat

Australia is famous for its beautiful beaches and has 35,877km of coastline – and that’s leaving Tasmania out! You’ll find the best beaches are further away from the road stretching from Cairns to Sydney.  That said, you won’t have to venture far to find a beach devoid of umbrellas and towels – Try striking up a conversation at the local fish and chips shop and ask where to go for a real slice of heaven on the sand.

Park It!

If national parks are your bag there are 870 National Parks to choose from in Australia, covering more than seven million hectares of land. Protected areas cover more than 11% of the country, so visitors are spoiled for choice. But, where do you start? For an Eastern itinerary in the Cairns area visit the awe-inspiring, 130-million-year-old Daintree Rainforest and the Glass House Mountains near Brisbane. For Victoria, consider Wilsons Promontory. If you’re after the biggest national park then Kakadu, in the Northern Territory is the place to see 68 mammals, Aboriginal rock art.

Make a Soft Landing

It’s wonderful to have a soft landing planned for your itinerary and the warm caress of Hervey Bay, a fantastic winter destination to explore beaches, nearby national parks and meet other like-minded caravanners.

And, if you’re looking to make a move to suit your lock up and leave lifestyle, then consider killing two birds with one stone by visiting Latitude25 in Hervey Bay, QLD.  So with Fraser Coast on the itinerary, you can explore the area and take advantage of Latitude25’s complimentary two-night stay at one of Hervey Bay’s Beachfront Caravan Parks followed by a tour and talk about Latitude25 – the newest fully planned over 50s lifestyle and secure gated community in sunny Hervey Bay that is fully RV-catered. You can learn more at visitlatitude25.com.au/roadtrip or call us on 1800 025 025.

When Pat and Sue Hegarty decided to look at retirement, they weren’t just looking at a new town or home, it was a complete change of lifestyle to the polar opposite of their 34,000-acre sheep station located between Longreach and Winton, QLD.

Pat was born, raised and worked the sheep station for 60 plus years.  Along the way his wife Sue, a Newcastle native, whom he met while she was a governess in the area, married and raised a family on the acreage.  With the nearest town located 140 km away making appointments, shopping and even going on holiday was a major expedition.  When it came time to decide the succession of the farm, the drought and preferences of the next Hegarty generation led to removing stock and preparing the land for sale, which became a three-year plan. During this time, they researched their next move starting with visiting relatives in lifestyle communities in Toowoomba and Newcastle.  In 2018 they discovered Latitude25 during a trip to Rockhampton and decided to visit.

Ticking the Boxes

For the Pat and Sue, the big selling points were the location, which was halfway between their daughter in Mission Beach and their son in Forbes, the perfect “not-too-big-city” size of Hervey Bay plus all the handy facilities, and amenities just a stone’s throw away.

They were so impressed they joined the Latitude25 Priority Register List in 2019 to be first in line on information on blocks within the community, which they ultimately secured and moved in November 2020.

“We love the big garage as we have a caravan and have done some traveling around and we’re planning more,” said Pat.  “All our friends had their RV in their paddocks. Plus, we have room for our small car and a tools area.  We downsized from the land, but I still like to have my tools and a place to work.”

 

The Transition to Staycation Life

Moving from the remote country to a lifestyle community environment was a major change for the Sue and Pat.  And, whilst Pat was never a big people person, he is loving the change of environment and Sue, a former schoolteacher, is loving all the social outlets.  At the same time, they are happy that when they close their door, they enjoy the sanctuary of their own private space with the freedom to do what they want whenever they want.

The biggest lesson to date, they say, is that it’s ok to say no.  With so many opportunities to be social they can pick and choose as they like.

“The move from remote land to the community has been refreshing for me,” said Sue.

 

 

“We arrived not knowing anyone, but it’s been so easy to make friends through activities and I have taken advantage of the social activities including water aerobics, art and lawn bowls.  We also really enjoy being around a community of likeminded, fit and active people.”

Gone are the days of traveling 25km to nearest neighbour and struggling to get a caretaker for property if they needed to get away.  Now Pat and Sue love the freedom to get up and go easily and the peace of mind of security that the gated community provides.

 

New Nest

Sue is particularly pleased with the lovely new home and the opportunity to start fresh with everything new.

 

“We have a lovely outlook from our alfresco out to green areas and the lake beyond.  Plus, the ease of doing everyday things at a moment’s notice, such as going to movies in town or practicing lawn bowls on the purpose-built greens whenever they want as they have joined the Urangan Lawn Bowls club. For Pat, it is nice to maintain the active lifestyle he had working on the property in the convenient state-of-the-art gym.”

 

 

Grandparents Haven

With all the conveniences and amenities in their new community, Pat and Sue took advantage by inviting their entire family together for the first time at Christmas.  Their children and grandchildren were thrilled to experience the swimming pool and facilities.

“We loved having everyone together for first time and having so much to do at our fingertips. We all enjoyed the pool and the family atmosphere that is encouraged and fostered.  No one treated it as a nuisance that our five grandsons were visiting, and we loved seeing others out and about with their grandchildren.

We like the change of climate as well,” said Sue.  “The cool breezes are a nice change from the extreme heat on the land. And it feels like we’re on holidays all the time. We loved our old life, but it’s time to live a new life and make the most of it and enjoy it!”

“We would recommend Latitude25 highly to others as it’s a wonderful lifestyle with security for peace of mind in a community of like-minded people.”

The benefits of living near water are endless and can help you slow down, relax, and refocus. It will come as no surprise that this feeling of relaxation has many positive benefits for your health.

Reducing stress increasing calm

Lakeside living is a peaceful existence – it is easy-going and serene. Living in urban environments can desensitise you to be unaware just how much stress your body carries. Over extended periods of time, this stress can take a toll on your physical and mental health.

Relocating close to the water can create a calming effect over your body that reduces stress. When you remove the effects of daily fast-paced urban life you make room for just the quiet beauty of the environment that surrounds you.

There’s a reason the local spa plays audio of water sounds.  Living near water will give you the most natural and soothing melodies. While listening to relaxing noises of the water lapping the shore, you will increase calm and relaxation.

Improving Sleep

Reducing stress also means a more restful night’s sleep. Sleep is crucial to good health. It is a time for your body to rest and recover from a long day. When you live in such a peaceful environment, your quality of sleep is likely to improve. Reduced noise pollution from city life and daily grind stress also makes it easier to fall, and stay, asleep.

Clean Air – happy lungs

When you live and play near the lake, you are breathing clean air, and plenty of it. By increasing time spent in fresh air, you can help boost your immune system thereby increasing your white blood cell count (key to helping you fight off infections). Plus, the clean air and proximity to nature can also improve your brain functions including mood, productivity, and learning.

A New Blue

Research has shown that our body and mind tend to have a personal and emotional relationship with water, also known as “Blue Mind” effect. This is a state when our body and soul feel more relaxed when near water.

“Blue mind theory is a legitimate and now trendy branch of the mindfulness landscape. A host of studies by neuroscientists have shown that water reduces cortisol levels (the stress hormone), slows our breathing and heart rate, and allows us to gently move into a mildly meditative mood.”

For more about this effect, you can read “Blue Mind” by marine biologist Wallace J. Nichols on the remarkable effects of water on our health and well-being.  It explores why being near water set our minds and bodies at ease and reveals the remarkable truth about the benefits of being in, on, under, or simply near water. (Source: http://amzn.to/2N41U4W)

Lake living is a reality at Latitude25 in Hervey Bay. With homes being built around two picturesque lakes with walkways and gorgeous landscaping, Latitude25 is a luxury fully planned RV lifestyle gated community catering to active over 50s lifestyle enthusiasts in a new vibrant safe community complete with resort-style facilities.

Learn more about Latitude25 at visitlatitude25.com.au or call to organise your own personal tour – virtual or in person – call Jane on 1800 025 025 or email info@visitlatitude25.com.au and don’t forget to ask us about our 2 Night Stay offer!

In a sport-obsessed country it’s no wonder that pickleball has been embraced whole-heartedly in Australia! For those new to the sport, here’s everything you need to know about this sport that is considered one of the fastest-growing sports (reportedly 3 million+ pickleball players to date)!

Quick History of Pickleball

Described as a cross between tennis, badminton and table tennis, the sport was created in 1965 by a group of friends in Bainbridge Island, Washington.

Eager to play badminton one afternoon, but unable to find a shuttlecock, they improvised by grabbing some table tennis paddles and a wiffle ball and lowering the net on the badminton court.

Pickleball is played with a perforated plastic yellow ball known as a wiffle ball. (Source: Wikimedia Commons: Stephen James Hall)

While the inventors — Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum — initially thought it would predominantly keep the kids entertained, it proved ideal for young and not-so-young players alike.

Pickleball Rules

1. The rules of pickleball are predominantly the same as tennis or badminton
2. Scoring is most similar to badminton — so you can only score a point while serving
3. The ball has to be hit three times before it can by volleyed (hit before it bounces)
4. You cannot volley the ball while standing in the area closest to the net (called the kitchen)
5. Serving must be underarm

With its all-ages appeal, small court and slow-moving ball anyone and everyone can play.  There is also a growing elite level of the game!

Pickleball Down Under

An ABC profile on Gabi Plumm, president of the Pickleball Association of Australia, explored how the sport came to Australia. She learnt the sport while visiting her son Morgan Evans in the US.  Evans won the 2016 US Open Pickleball Championships.

“[He] said ‘I think you should do this because it will be easier for you to play than tennis’ which is very true,” Ms Plumm said.  “It’s such an easy game to learn,” she said. “It is possibly one of the easiest games in the world to learn.  “Within 10 minutes you’re on a court playing with people who have been playing for some time.”

Sounds Interesting?

You can learn about joining a league in Australia and watch a tutorial on the sport at https://www.pickleballaus.org/.

The Pickleball Australia Association (PAA) was established in January of 2020 and is a volunteer not-for-profit organisation focused on nurturing the growth and development of pickleball Australia-wide.

Or perhaps you want to start your own league?
Pickleball courts are popping up everywhere including Latitude25 Community where there are three brand new Pickle Ball courts! These are welcome additions to a long list of amenities within the community keeping them happy, healthy and active!  Latitude25 has a state-of-the-art $3.5M Health Hub as part of its amazing lifestyle community, which combined with its newly completed full-service, spanking-new clubhouse, is just another reason residents love to call Latitude25 home.

Learn more about Latitude25 at visitlatitude25.com.au or call to organise your own personal tour – virtual or in person – call Jane on 1800 025 025 or email info@visitlatitude25.com.au and don’t forget to ask us about our 2 Night Stay offer!

Physically, nothing is more reinvigorating than a deep, healthy sweat every day. The body’s response to gentle, persistent heat is well-documented and proven day in and out by people all over the world.  What’s so great?  Here’s some of the amazing benefits of a sauna session!

Reducing stress

Medical studies identify the stresses of our daily lives as a negative influence on our health. Heat bathing in a sauna provides stress relief by relaxing the body’s muscles, improving circulation and stimulating the release of endorphins (That “feel good” hormone that gives on that “after sauna glow”).

Relaxing muscles and soothing aches/pains

The high heat of a sauna can minimise the pain of joint and muscle soreness other from an intense physical workout. Plus, the body temperature also rises from the heat of the sauna which equals dilating blood vessels for increased blood circulation. This increased blood flow speeds up the body’s natural healing process via soothing aches.

Detoxing

Deep sweating, however, has multiple proven health benefits and can be achieved via regular sauna bathing. As the sweat glands become stimulated, they produce sweat. Sweat production is primarily designed to cool the body and is composed of 99% water. However, deep sweating in a sauna can help reduce levels of lead, copper, zinc, nickel, mercury and chemical – which are all toxins commonly absorbed just from interacting with our daily environments.

Encouraging deeper sleep

Research has shown that a deeper, more relaxed sleep can result from sauna use. In addition to the release of endorphins, body temperatures, that become elevated in the late evening, fall at bedtime. This slow, relaxing decline in endorphins is key in facilitating sleep. Numerous sauna bathers worldwide recall the deep sleep experiences that they feel after bathing in the calming heat of a sauna.

Cleansing the skin

One of the oldest beauty/health strategies for cleansing one’s skin is heat bathing. This sort of deep sweating rinses bacteria out of the epidermal layer and sweat ducts which cleanses the pores has been shown to improve the capillary circulation and producing a softer-looking quality for your skin.

FUN FACT: Infra-red sauna VS traditional sauna with the rocks

“An infrared sauna is a type of sauna that uses light to create heat. This type of sauna is sometimes called a far-infrared sauna — “far” describes where the infrared waves fall on the light spectrum. A traditional sauna uses heat to warm the air, which in turn warms your body. An infrared sauna heats your body directly without warming the air around you.

The appeal of saunas in general is that they cause reactions similar to those elicited by moderate exercise, such as vigorous sweating and increased heart rate. An infrared sauna produces these results at lower temperatures than does a regular sauna, which makes it accessible to people who can’t tolerate the heat of a conventional sauna.” (Source https://www.mayoclinic.org/)

For residents at Latitude25 their state-of-art infra-red sauna is welcome addition to a long list of amenities within the community keeping them happy, healthy and active!  Latitude25 has a state-of-the-art $3.5M Health Hub as part of its amazing lifestyle community, which combined with its newly completed full-service, spanking-new clubhouse, is just another reason residents love to call Latitude25 home.

To explore this lifestyle for yourself, and to see how Latitude25 stacks u (in person or virtually), don’t forget to ask us about our 2 Night Stay!
For more details, call Jane on 1800 025 025 or email info@visitlatitude25.com.au

It was a lucky Friday the 13^th at Latitude25 where more than 120 people gathered for the opening of its state-of-the-art $3.5M Health Hub as part of its amazing lifestyle community.  Combined with its newly completed Clubhouse, the project’s communal facilities totaling $8 million have marked another stage of completion for the Latitude25 lifestyle community.

Another beautiful sunny Queensland afternoon was the backdrop for the festive event that included opening remarks and welcome by Ryan Williams, Latitude25 Development Manager, followed by afternoon tea and drinks around the new facilities overlooking the two lakes and landscaped grounds of Latitude25.

Some of the residents surprised the crowd with a flashmob rendition to the Olivia Newton-John classic, “Let’s Get Physical” which got the fun started for the rest of the afternoon.

           

Fraser Coast Deputy Mayor, Darren Everard and International Bowler & Coach, Wayne Nairn joined the event to officially open the first class community facilities that include magnesium swimming pool, three pickle ball courts, tennis court, six rink bowling green, virtual golf studio, outdoor golf chip and putt area, infra-red sauna and gym including group fitness area.

“We are delighted to open our doors to the Latitude25 community to these fantastic and diverse array of facilities and activities just in time for the gorgeous Summer weather that Queensland faithfully offers its lucky residents,” said Ryan Williams.

           

A Latitude25 resident commented, ” It was a great opening with plenty of fun. The facilities are first class…”

To explore this lifestyle for yourself, and to see how Latitude25 stacks up, we also offer a complimentary 2-night stay on us.
For more details, call Jane on 1800 025 025 or email info@visitlatitude25.com.au