For Noreen and Leo Rawlings, it’s the sense of community and stunning location and setting which means that St Luke’s Green in Brisbane has become “their life”.
The couple moved from northern NSW and into the St Luke’s Green retirement living project 12 months ago, after Noreen had a temporary bout of ill-health.
They’ve since had no regrets about the move.
“We really love it here,” says Noreen. “We’re on the second floor and even though we have neighbours on both sides, it’s so quiet and peaceful.”
“We can relax on our terrace and look out at the city and the beautiful green lawns and gardens below. It’s stunning”.
About St Luke’s Green
St Luke’s Green is located in the heart of Brisbane’s inner-city Woolloongabba and contains 61 independent living apartments and a boutique residential aged care home.
Despite being just 2km from Brisbane’s bustling South Bank dining and arts precinct, St Luke’s Green provides peaceful grounds and a charming laid-back Queenslander-style design.
The project in fact won a prestigious design excellence award at the 2017 Property Council of Australia’s National Retirement Living Awards.
This award recognised the way St Luke’s Green was successfully designed around, and activated and restored, a heritage-listed Spanish Mission-style church.
This church, which dates back to the early 20th century, continues to hold services and is also used for village concerts and events.
St Luke’s Green also contains a host of modern communal facilities, including a lush, landscaped village green, patio with outdoor BBQ, cafe, hairdresser and beauty salon, theatrette, library and fitness centre.
Importantly, the fact that assisted living services and an aged care facility are located on-site also means that St Luke’s Green can cater for residents as their care needs increase.
“We’re flat out with activities”
Noreen and Leo made the decision to move into St Luke’s Green following Noreen’s second bout of brain cancer, which left her considerably weakened following surgery and chemotherapy.
“At the time we were living in a big home at Banora Point (near Tweed Heads) with a swimming pool and gardens, which we maintained ourselves,” Leo explains.
"But Noreen was so weak after fighting the cancer, she could barely get up. One day she just looked at me and said, `Leo, we are out of here please.’
While the couple had initially been interested in another Greengate development that was still in the process of being built, they made the decision to buy into St Luke’s Green, which was already up and running.
The couple live in a two bedroom apartment, with the second bedroom set up as a study.
The good news is that Noreen has bounced back and made a full recovery from her cancer with this positive development confirmed in recent scans.
"I’m so much better now,” she points out.
Not that the couple needed an official green light to throw themselves into the village Iife at St Luke’s.
We’re flat out with all the activities”, Noreen explains. "We’ve just adapted beautifully here. This is our life.”
Their schedule includes weekly exercise classes.
Then there’s the communal dinner on Wednesday nights, which is a great way to meet new friends and also take a break from cooking their own meals.
There’s also monthly lunches, which might include a barbecue feast and regular jaunts to a local Leagues club.
"There’s been a number of people who have moved in since we have been here and we’re all really friendly,” says Leo. "There’s lots of chit chat going on and it’s a fun group.”
Noreen and Leo also enjoy going to regular services in the church where the joyful sound of hymns being sung, adds to the pleasant soundtrack of village life."
"All of our family has visited us here,” says Leo, "and they absolutely love it.“
He adds that their son, a world traveller, is actually jealous of their lifestyle.
He tells us that we have six star accommodation here but when he’s away he can only afford to stay at five star resorts,” says Leo proudly.
But aside from its glamorous facade, St Luke’s Green has something that money really can’t buy - a warm and nourishing way of life, an inclusive community where all of the residents are cherished.
Find out more
There’s never been a better time to experience St Luke’s Green all for yourself with a small number of one and two bedroom independent living apartments currently available from the early $400,000s to $660,000.
Each elegant apartment also showcases natural finishes and spacious interiors, with many also enjoying district or Brisbane skyline views.
This content was prepared by Downsizing.com.au on behalf of St Luke's Green
