Ready for a Sea Change?

Join us at Kithbrooke Park Country Club.

Resort style living for over 55s. Modern purpose built homes within a secure, gated community provide ample space for every style of living, and offer peace of mind for your golden years.

• Dedicated maintenance and gardening teams to keep the grounds beautiful and safe

• Regular and ongoing clubs and classes, run by and for residents

• Onsite physiotherapy and hydrotherapy weekly

• Clubhouse restaurant and social space

• A thriving social community

• Weekly bus trips to Torquay, Waurn Ponds, and Pakington Street

Ready? Call Kelly on 0418 182 883 to book a viewing for your new villa.

Off to Market!

Markets! There are so many wonderful markets around the Surf Coast and Geelong, even as the winter months loom on the horizon. Here’s a roundup of all the markets for the next few months and what they have to offer!

Torquay Farmers Market

This popular weekly market celebrates fresh local foods and artisan produce including fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, eggs, artisan cheeses and breads, fresh fish, salami, olive oil, jams, honey, preserves and nuts, as well as delicious treats, locally roasted coffee and much more!

Every Saturday 8.30am - 1pm: 1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay

Aireys Inlet Market

Goodness oozes from every corner of this much-loved community market, where local producers, artists and creators showcase their products and produce. With up to 60 stallholders, this market is a lovely opportunity to browse, connect with stallholders and take home an authentic, homegrown, handmade, recycled or vintage product from our local makers and growers.

14 April, 5 May, 9 June, 14 July, 9am - 1pm: Aireys Inlet Community Hall , 6 Great Ocean Road

Winchelsea Community Market

Located at the historic Winchelsea Shire Hall, the market has both indoor and outdoor stalls, a food court and beautiful local produce. You can buy directly from producers, processors and local artisans who sell their goods direct to the public near the source of their origin.

The first Sunday of each month 9am-1pm: Winchelsea Shire Hall

Belmont Market

Geelong's biggest garage sale and Victoria's most affordable community market! Packed full of car boot stalls and local makers.

Every Sunday, 8.30am - 3pm: Barwon Valley Activity Centre

Geelong Ethical Market

Living a life that has less impact on our planet and all species is becoming more important, as we face our climate emergency, it only makes sense to support ethical, cruelty free and vegan businesses.

Our ethical living fair will showcase alternatives to a lot of non ethical products and you will discover, living an ethical lifestyle is easier than you think. With over 30 stalls, food trucks and live music, it's a great way to spend a day.

Fourth Saturday of every month, 10am - 2pm: Barwon Valley Activity Center, Belmont Common

Geelong Waterfront Makers and Growers Market

Geelong Waterfront Makers & Growers Market takes place on the lawns of Steampacket Gardens. The market has become a popular tourist destination and favorite of locals who flock to the market for and often enjoy one of the other events happening on the waterfront or enjoying a coffee or a people watch at one of the many cafes stretching Western Beach Road.

First Sunday of the Month, 10:00am to 2:00pm (to 3:00pm over spring/summer): Steampacket Gardens Geelong

Portarlington Sunday Market

A vibrant, volunteer run, community market offering a range of products and a fun day out!

Last Sunday of Month, 9:00am to 2:00pm: WG Little Reserve, Newcombe St, Portarlington

Queenscliff Community Market

Quality artisan & craft Market. Plant stalls, food vans, produce. Free entry & live entertainment.

Last Sunday of Month, 9:00am to 2:00pm Sept to May: Lower Princess Park, Queenscliff

Whatever your flavour of market, there’s surely something to please! Check these links for the most up to date information for the markets:

https://surfcoastevents.com.au/event/markets/

https://intown.com.au/locals/geelong/attractions/markets.htm

Tips for indoor plants!

The villas at Kithbrooke are perfect for those who prefer to get their hands dirty, with ample space for plants both inside and out the rear.

The sun flooded villas provide perfect homes for all indoor plants, from the ever popular leafy monstera, to tricky orchids, and everything beyond and between. Even for the most confident gardener, indoor and potted plants bring their own sets of challenges, often having different care needs to ground plants.

Here are five tips for keeping indoor and potted plants lush and vibrant all year round:

1 - Water and Fertilise! It sounds obvious, of course, but every plant has their own watering requirements. Flowering plants are generally more thirsty, and cacti and succulents require less water. Overwatering is more harmful to the plant than underwatering, and avoiding splashing the leaves will help prevent spots. Indoor plants don’t usually need fertilizer, and a little bit goes a long way. Coffee grounds and crushed egg shells make great cheap fertilizer, and can be a great way to combat food waste.

2 - Prune and propagate! Trimming and pruning plants encourages new growth and ensures the nutrients are going where they’re needed. Some plants reproduce rapidly, with offshoots and roots forming in the pot or at the end of stems. This can also make great gifts, with a small offshoot in a pot ready to go and grow in someone else’s home!

3 - Repot! When they outgrow their space, rehome them into a larger pot. Alternatively, if you see the roots circling around the inside of the pot, they can be trimmed down periodically to avoid suffocating the roots.

4 - Dust! Dusting off a plant may seem silly, but if the dust collects on the leaves, it can trap bacteria and moisture and encourage disease growth and spots. Gently wiping them with a cloth or giving them a small shower will keep the leaves clean and the plant happy.

5 - Control for Pests and Watch for Diseases! Due to the unique nature of houseplants, there are some pests that choose them over others, as well as some diseases that are more common in indoor plants. Keeping on top of pest control can help keep your plants healthy, and keeping them clean and appropriately watered will keep them green.

Happy growing!

New Year, New Home

As the year comes to a close, many are hoping for big changes in the new year. Why not make your new year amazing with a sea change to Kithbrooke Park?

Spacious and light filled open plan living zones, storage spaces, and ample outdoor garden areas give the villas the feel of a much larger home, with plenty of space for entertaining or having pets. 

Master bedrooms with private ensuites and walk in robes ensure luxurious privacy whilst having space for guests and entertaining, with one or two spare bedrooms. 

The villas have high quality, modern fittings and fixtures, and they’re easy to maintain, with european appliances filling the generous kitchen. 

High quality modern fixtures and fittings keep the villas easy to maintain, and the generous kitchen is fitted with European appliances - ready for life from day one.

Single and double garage options are available, allowing choice to suit the needs of residents. 

With weekly clubs and classes, you’ll never find yourself twiddling your thumbs, and the four purpose built hydrotherapy pools are a favourite among our residents. There’s something for everyone at Kithbrooke.

Housed within a secure and friendly community, you'll quickly call Kithbrooke home. 

Ready for tranquility? Reach out to Kelly on 0418 182 883

Searoad Ferries

Searoad ferries have long had a route between Queenscliff and Sorrento, encouraging visitors and locals alike to take the scenic route across the bay. 

Whilst on a Searoad ferry, you’ll find an onboard cafe, as well as plenty of comfy seating, both inside the cabin  and out on the deck for those nicer days (or braver travelers!) There’s mounted binoculars to help you catch a better view of Pope’s Eye or the Black Lighthouse, and keen eyed visitors may even spot dolphins riding in the wake of the ferry. 

Not only is the ferry a great transport option, it can be part of the experience, with events often held on the ferry itself. Sundays see High Tea on the High Seas, and throughout the year they have shows and entertainment for both young and old, with plenty of experiences for the kids over the school holidays. 

The ferry docks in Sorrento, a beautiful seaside town with a historic feel. It has everything you could ask for in a port town, from a perfect pub to fresh seafood, as well as a strip of boutique local shops, boasting wares you won’t find anywhere else. 

Then after a day in Sorrento, catch the sunset on the way back, with special 7pm services running throughout the summer and over Easter. Finish the night at one of the many beautiful restaurants and bars in Queenscliff. 

With a ferry leaving Queenscliff and Sorrento every hour between 7am - 7pm, there’s plenty of time to make the day amazing. 

Benefits of living in Torquay

Kithbrooke Park Country Club is located in the beautiful coastal town of Torquay, down in southeast Victoria. 

Whilst we and our residents could list countless reasons to make the seachange, here are just a few. 

• Gateway to the Great Ocean Road 

  • A global landmark, the Great Ocean Road is a point of pride for any Torquay local, with beautiful scenic ocean views and the smell of eucalypts as you wind through the Otways.

  • Walk, drive, cycle, the Great Ocean Road has a trail for you!

• Ever growing community

• Torquay is ever growing and changing for the better

• Always something new to see and do

• Small town feel, with easy access to Geelong and Melbourne

• Torquay still maintains its small town charm, with easy public transport access

• Direct link to freeway and Geelong Ring Road 

• Extensive Coastline

• Health benefits. It's been proven that sea air encourages respiratory health, and salt water can aid joint issues.

• With over 15km in beaches, there’s always somewhere to feel the sand on your feet or the salt in the air.

Make the seachange today.

Keeping Warm while Keeping Fit

Exercise can help prevent and reduce symptoms of arthritis, dementia, depression, and fatigue. As the weather gets colder, it's ever more important to keep our bodies moving and blood flowing.

You don't need to have a load of fancy exercise equipment or spend hours in the gym.

Use canned food or water bottles as dumbbells/weights, keep the arms moving while watching tv, or even as added weight for a tough powerwalk!

Put on some music and have a dance around the house, or put some music on as you go out for a walk, add some pep into your step!

Go for a stroll, speedwalk, or even a jog! Research shows that even a five minute stroll gets the blood moving and brain pumping.

Yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, and even some forms of Aerobics are nice and gentle ways to get moving. Kithbrooke even offers these as classes, so check in the Clubroom for schedule.

Swimming is also incredibly good for the entire body, and luckily Kithbrooke has lovely hydrotherapy pools so you don't have to brave the cold.

Another easy one is adding a few repetitions when you get up or down from a chair, sitting and rising a couple times.

With all this, make sure to listen to your body, stop if anything hurts, and think outside the box to find creative ways to keep warm and active, whilst having fun.

Pickleball!

Pickleball has taken the world by storm in recent years. It's a great, low impact way to stay fit, and a fun way to make new friends. Here's a snippet from a great article by Mike Hess, the former President of the International Federation of Pickleball:

“The founders of Pickleball have created the perfect balance among court dimensions, rules and equipment. The result is a game that allows all skill levels and age groups to enjoy. It is not by chance, but by intention, that points are not easy to score. Pickleball is not a game full of “winning shots.” Rather it is a game full of “tactical shots” and patience and easy strokes. The dynamics of pickleball work extraordinarily well, making it the fastest growing sport on the planet.

Therefore, the essence of the sport needs to be protected. The balance achieved is unlike any other sport ever invented, attracting aficionados of both genders, all skill-levels and all ages. From the novice to the elite, the sport is both fun and challenging, and what occurs during a 15 minute game to 11 is unique to pickleball - long rallies, participation of everyone on the court and an enjoyable blend of soft and rapid-fire rallies. This mix of strokes, sensations, body movement, reaction time and player interaction work incredibly well and have attracted what is arguably the widest range of participants (gender age and skill level) of any sport played today.

There is no need for “mini” pickleball as often occurs in other sports, because the “full” version of pickleball is accessible to all. That is an amazing accomplishment. Nearly all sports have to adapt their rules, or “dummy down” to allow young kids or seniors to play. Pickleball is the rare exception."

Want to read more? Check the full article here: http://www.pickleballoceania.com/culture.html

Want to play Pickleball? Come down to the clubhouse and put your name down for our weekly games.