Newsletter - July

Plenty happening since the June newsletter and with a busy couple of months coming up, the highlight of which will be the GemLife Games in September. More on that next month.

The HOC is keeping busy delivering welcome packs and greeting new residents.

The HOC holds meet and greet gatherings for our newbies on the 1^st and 14^th of the month in the Vibe lounge. These coffee mornings are a short but comprehensive introduction to life here in the resort with a walk-through of the clubhouse.

A fantastic initiative of Community Care saw residents attend a meeting Thursday 23^rd, to create a group of volunteers prepared to be available to neighbours in need. Neighbours Helping Neighbours hopes at least a couple of residents from each street can be called on, for example, to help with transport to appointments, picking up prescriptions or light shopping for those incapacitated, help with filling out forms and so on. If you would like to add your name to the list of community carers please contact Carol Witkiss, Villa 204.  Drop a note in her letterbox or email: Carolwitkiss@gmail.com  

No sooner had the tables been cleared and the decorations from the Black and White Masquerade ball been put away, than the social committee, steered by Kay Wilson, was pulling out the tinsel and snow-painted pinecones for the Christmas in July dinner. It was another sell-out evening with a two-course festive meal, lots of festive colour, fun and live music. Bar staff were kept busy with some 20 volunteers ensuring the drinks and the evening flowed smoothly.

Big band news – they’ve been practising for hours every day and now Cover 2 Cover, our own newly formed in-house band is set to show you what they’ve got! The six-member band have their repertoire ready to rock during this Friday’s happy hour. Give Jill and the boys your support. It’s their first time playing together but the members have a wealth of talent and are excited about their first gig.

The Solo Homeowners bus trip has been well-supported with all seats filled for the lunch trip to Mt Tamborine Friday July 31. Organiser Kevin says he has opened a waitlist in the event anyone drops out. Meantime, he’s already planning a second solos outing on Friday, August 14. Kevin moved into Villa 205 only a few weeks ago and it’s great to see the community spirit of our new neighbours.

On Saturday August 8 at 10am, head up to the auditorium for an update from the HOC on all things community and GemLife-related. There will be a rundown on the financial state of play, news from each of the committee leaders, and your chance to ask questions. The Constitution will be discussed, and residents are encouraged to read this important document which resort manager Jane Bryan emailed to everyone last week. Stay informed and become involved.

Coming up on August 14 is the launch of bistro night, in partnership with Jason from On Your Spork (caterers of the masquerade ball and Christmas in July). An area of the auditorium will have dedicated tables set up to serve tasty choices such as barra, bolognaise and steak.  These must be pre-ordered and paid for at the time of booking.
Those not booked in for the bistro can enjoy happy hour drinks and nibbles as usual. Visit onyourspork/gemlife-events to book in your time slot for the bistro.

We are an active bunch with new fitness sessions being added all the time. The most recent is the Mates and Weights classes, 9am on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the gym. No pressure, no leader and no expectations – just rock up, swap gym tips, lift, learn and have a yarn while you’re getting healthy. No bookings required.

Tidy town – Di Smith is our go-to for landscaping and streetscaping issues. A few problems reported and fixed include

• pathway lights now working between Ruby and Gemstone Drive

• Fire ants' nests have been identified and treated

• Indoor pool door fixed

• Raised edge of steps leading to the letterboxes has been fixed, removing the trip hazard

• Car bumpers in carparks being painted a more visible yellow

Most of us are aware that there has been an issue with the fire alarm going off in the auditorium. Turns out the alarm was being set off by steam escaping from the sauna.  Users are reminded to not open the door for airflow, but to use the vent at the back top right hand corner. Misuse will see the sauna out of order again.

Bingo! Sunday 19th Bingo afternoon drew the biggest crowd yet, and so the biggest prize pool. Bingo devotees ensured that Tina Fedder’s final call was memorable, with a record 60 players pushing the prize pool to $600. Chris Edwards was the biggest winner, picking up first and last wins for $135. The only thing more impressive was Chris’s Bingo shirt. Tina kicked off the Bingo here at GemLife and leaves it in good hands. But she will be missed and the many players all thanked her for the fun she has created these past few months.

Sandy and Colette’s weekly Tuesday and fortnightly Wednesday art classes are bringing out the creative side in residents who thought they had ‘no talent’. Sandy and Colette went a step further recently with a Sip and Paint event.   Some 24 artists attended the Thursday afternoon fun, with easels set up, paints laid out and a portrait to be drawn and painted. There was a great spread of cheese and biscuits and, of course, something to sip!  Sandy says more will follow as happy participants went home with a vibrant masterpiece to hang on their walls.

The Knit, sew and crochet group (aka ‘knit and natter’) have sent a bundle of handmade items to Sewing For Charity – everything from blankets and beanies, to bags, baby outfits and bears. To think the items created with love and lots of laughs on a Monday afternoon, in our own busy craft room, will find their way across Australia to people in need, is so rewarding.
	If you’re interested in joining the group to help create handmade items, or perhaps to learn a new skill from old hands, pop up to the craft room on Mondays at 2pm. Just follow the sounds of laughter.

State of Origin divides people just as it brings them together, depending on whether they’re in the Blues or the Maroons camp. And there was plenty of friendly rivalry in the Vibe Bar in the auditorium for the SOO decider. It was the first time both the Sky Bar and Vibe Bar were open at the same time, catering to the pool players and social drinkers upstairs and those who wanted to watch it on the big screen downstairs, with the convenience of an open bar, and in the Cinema for full surround sound. About 30 gathered in the auditorium to watch the best team cop a thrashing. A great success for the bar; not such a success for Queensland.

Given the ban on glassware out by the pool, residents will be happy when the plastic drinkware arrives. (They’re on order.)  Be aware that the ban on glass by the pool also extends to wine and beer bottles. Don’t get caught out!

	We love to celebrate birthdays here at GemLife Gold Coast. June saw a 70s and 80s party, celebrating ‘significant’ birthdays and giving people the chance to dress up in 70s and 80s gear. It was a colourful evening to say the least! End of the month is ‘cake’ night so let Kay Wilson know if your birthday is in July and let’s celebrate you with cake, last Friday of the month during happy hour.

Karaoke night proved a popular event when even those who can’t sing, would not sing, refused to sing, or “no-way-would-they-sing unless they’d had a few more drinks”, were suddenly up, gripping the microphone and warbling away as if they were auditioning for Australia’s Got Talent.  What a great night it was - full of laughs, dancing and some very average singing. Looking forward to the next one!

Line dancing classes took off with a yeehaa at the end of June. People took to the floor for two hours of boot scooting. Lessons and hootin’ and hollerin’ will continue Mondays from 10am-12pm in the auditorium. Gold coin donation to support charities.

	Residents continue to pour into the Wine Appreciation evenings on the first Tuesday of the month.  Meet in the auditorium foyer 6.15pm for a 6.30 start. MUST BOOK. Payment of $20 is needed at least seven days beforehand so the host can buy the wine. The August tasting tipple is the versatile Chenin Blanc.
Want to join? Contact Catherine (Attricia Edwards on Facebook) for more information.  Email catherinemifsud55@gmail.com

Texas Hold’em Poker has seen huge interest and has already outgrown the 10-seat table in the conference room, where games are held on Monday afternoons. Approval has been sought from the HOC for a second table, so enthusiasts won’t need to be turned away.

	The GemLife Games are coming up fast. Too fast for those in training and hoping they’ll be ready. You may not be planning to compete September 10-11, but there are still opportunities to become involved.
Di Smith is gathering her volunteers for jobs around the resort; everything from cheerleading and delivering lunches to competitors to inducted drivers for transport.  Plenty of help needed.  Email Di:  DI26HOCHOA@GMAIL.COM

Last week some 60 past and present volunteers gathered for pizza and a drink provided by the HOC (themselves all volunteers, of course) as a thank you to volunteers for all they do to keep the community ticking along. Volunteers play a role in pretty much every facet of resort life – from the bar to bowls, from art and craft to sports coaching. If all the volunteers took a holiday at once, we would all be living in Dullsville. Is there a way you can contribute to community life? Even if it’s just an hour or two a week?
VOLUNTEERING opportunities: Social – our events take a lot of planning and it’s the volunteers who make them happen – from setting up to clearing up, there is always a job to do to lighten the load. Contact Kay Wilson Coffee: Ever enjoyed a coffee after your morning fitness session or following a special information session? Currently a team of three volunteers ensures cups are washed, and that the machine is kept topped up with product and cleaned on a daily basis. The job takes about 20 minutes. Volunteers do need a Safe Food Handling certificate, free and easily attainable online. If you enjoy your coffee, please consider volunteering.    Contact Sue Parry  Bar: If you’re interested in volunteering, shifts are from just one hour up to 90 minutes with your pick of times and days. The bar is open Wednesday to Sunday afternoons.  Great conditions and team leaders. Even if you have just one free hour a week, consider a shift behind the bar. Contact Brian Smith Games roles: You can help create a great Games environment. Email Di Smith DI26HOCHOA@GMAIL.COM
Speaking of the bar … Remember to please return your empty glasses to the Dirty Glass rack on the bar, deposit empty bottles and cans into the collection bins and wipe down your tables before leaving the bar. Your volunteer bar staff thank you for doing your bit.
Want to share something of interest to the next newsletter? Send your contributions to bazzagill@bigpond.com.