As much as Les Gilbert loved his large suburban home - especially its full-sized snooker room which he considered the “best in Sydney” - he had certainly fallen out of love with the home’s maintenance chores.
“I couldn’t do it anymore,” Les said. “I’ve already had five surgeries on my arm, after a workplace injury. It was time to move.”
Les decided to downsize to a retirement village and, during October, became one of the first residents to move into Anglicare’s Minto Gardens.
“The first time I walked through the door of this apartment, I fell in love with it. I thought ‘this is my new home’,” he said.
Les says he was awestruck by the apartment’s storage space and also its generous floor space, which means there is plenty of room for his model car collection and former snooker room posters and prints.
About Minto Gardens
During November 2021, Downsizing.com.au visited Minto Gardens, which includes 110 newly-completed retirement apartments, along with a residential aged care home, Porter Lodge (which is set to open in February 2022).
The village features a hair salon, chapel services and a community hub with lounge, library, piano and internet access. The village cafe will be open in early 2022.
Three of the apartment buildings also feature their own community rooms, along with a separate community building called The Pavilion, which can be booked via Concierge for social activities such as movies and special events.
Located just minutes from Minto Marketplace, the project is set on a 5.88 hectare former industrial site which contains natural bushland and grassed areas.
The Minto Gardens project has been carefully designed to ensure this leafy, green landscape continues to make its mark between six new retirement living apartment buildings.
Anglicare has also used this abundant open space to install plenty of outdoor activity spaces, including covered barbecue areas and a new playground for the grandkids, seniors’ gym park, community garden and off-leash dog park.
There’s also a series of winding pathways and plenty of rest stop seats, included amongst shady and sheltered garden areas.
Minto Gardens is also the first location to road-test Anglicare’s new Vitality Program, which helps residents remain living happy and healthy in their own home for as long as possible.
Co-ordinated by Minto Gardens’ health and wellness consultant (and enrolled nurse) Shelja Zagorec, the program includes two free annual wellness checks along with an hour of domestic support each fortnight.
The program will provide support to residents that need it, including cleaning and laundry help, but also encourage these residents to maintain their own good health habits, including exercise and social interaction. A formal home care service, Anglicare at Home, is also available if residents require a greater level of assistance.
This focus on good living, and outdoor activity, means that the residents of Minto Gardens are going to have every opportunity to be the healthiest retirement village residents in Sydney.
About the apartments
Having just finished construction, Minto Gardens offers new, untouched apartments.
The apartments range in price from $289,500 for one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments to $437,750 and up for apartments with two-bedrooms, a study and two-bathrooms. Deferred management fees apply.
The apartments have a focus on bright, open plan living, including warm timber finishes and modern appliances. All apartments include their own spacious private balcony, with pets allowed for company (subject to village manager approval).
All apartments meet among the highest building accessibility standards, resulting in a safe living environment free of steps or trips and with plenty of room to move about.
Les ready to welcome more neighbours
Les Gilbert is looking forward to welcoming more neighbours into Minto Gardens.
Any incoming residents are more than likely to enjoy some of his hospitality.
This is because Les has decided to donate his beloved snooker table to the village, so he can once again enjoy light-hearted banter and friendly competition over a game.
And anyone who wants to venture down to Les’ basement carpark will get another surprise.
The basement is home to his pride and joy - a bright blue turbo Ford Mustang.
Book a private appointment now to find out more about Minto Gardens
This content was prepared by Downsizing.com.au on behalf of Anglicare
