Strong community and fun activities highlighted The Village Retirement Group video

A supportive community, modern and well-built apartments and an abundance of on-site activities - these were some of the comments Downsizing.com.au received from residents when it visited The Village Coorparoo in Brisbane during July.

Downsizing.com.au was visiting the award-winning village to film a video with Property TV about The Village Retirement Group.

The Village Retirement Group (TVRG) manages five Queensland-based retirement villages, ranging from architecturally-designed apartments in the heart of the city to luxurious villas in suburban areas. Other villages are located at Yeronga (inner south Brisbane), Redcliffe (Moreton Bay area), Taigum (northern Brisbane) and Harristown (Toowoomba area)

The 38-minute video features interviews with:

• TVRG's founders Michael and Justin Harrison, who discussed how they were inspired to build a new standard for retirement living after a failed search for accommodation for Justin’s beloved grandmother. 

• Village Coorparoo residents Ross and Pam Lyons who share the journey they made to get to The Village and what surprised them the most about moving there. 

• Village Coorparoo Manager Murial Biner, who discusses how she creates a strong rapport with her residents and what she considers to be a village manager’s most important skill. 

• TVRG's Sales Director Ric Cohen, one of the most experienced Queenslanders in the retirement village industry, who shares his top three tips for downsizers and the topics a resident needs to take into account before they move in.

In the video, Justin Harrison discusses how the company has been able to help retirees age-in-place, through challenging the concept that retirement villages should be located on the fringes of cities and towns. 

“We purposely set out not to do something the industry was already doing,” Mr Harrison said. “We didn’t get the architects who were already in the retirement and aged care business. We instead got the best multi-unit architects in Brisbane.”

“A lot of the retirement villages in the 70s, 80s and early 90s, were all on the periphery (of cities), where the land was cheap. The research we did really proved that people didn’t want to move far from where they lived.

“Nothing was being offered in the inner part of Brisbane for seniors. 

“The first thing we did was keep people in their suburb, where they have their own parish church, their doctor and dentist.

“Then the next part was the great facilities that we provide - you walk in here, and it is better than any hotel you would find in Brisbane or other parts of the country.”

The video features interviews conducted by Property TV’s Kevin Turner and Downsizing.com.au’s very own Bruce Samazan.

In the video, residents make very clear they enjoy socialising with their neighbours, along with the safe and secure village environment and the wide range of activities and facilities on-offer.

“We used to live in a large home by ourselves, but you didn’t see anybody all day. Here you come down to the coffee shop, and there is always someone to chat to,” one resident says.