26 Mar '09

Mt Gravatt Retirement Village - Quirky Crazy QLD Party

Residents at TriCare's Mt Gravatt Retirement Village dusted off the akubras, flip flops and lifesaver costumes for a Quirky Crazy QLD Party to celebrate QLD's 150th birthday on Thursday the 26th of March.

With a bush, beach and ball theme more than 130 residents' and staff turned out in full force to dance and sing the night away.

MC and entertainer for the night, Cameron Smith provided a wonderful mix of Australian songs while the crowd dined on a menu of prawn and avocado cocktails, fillet of steak with macadamia nut sauce and a crowd pleasing dessert of individual cream patisserie tarts with mango and pineapple served with a fruit cooly.

Mount Gravatt's Village Manager summed up the evening as a fantastic event for both residents and staff alike.

"Everybody just had a wonderful, wonderful night with the highlight being an original performance about cleaning maids by village staff dressed as Gold Coast Meter Maids."

One of the features of the event was a bark hut model, imagined and brought to life by resident Peter Window with the assistance of Brian Matthews also a village resident.

The model took three months to construct and included Aussie icons such as the rainwater tank, chook pen, the horse trough, lean-to kitchen and the thunder box complete with a redback spider.

Events such as Mt Gravatt Retirement Village's Quirky Crazy QLD Party are such an important part of TriCare's seven Retirement Communities throughout South East Queensland and Melbourne.

TriCare's village atmosphere encourages participation in a range of activities that may not be accessible to older people living in their own homes in the wider community.

These activities provide social structure and eliminate the isolation that can be experienced as day-to-day mobility decreases.

"These events generate such a positive atmosphere and are so important for the residents, said Mt Gravatt's Village Manager.

"They help create the feel of a Village family rather than a group of individuals living on the same property."

Events such as the Crazy Quirky QLD Party at Mt Gravatt Retirement Village are an integral part of life in TriCare Retirement Communities.