Joyce Cunningham celebrates 100th Birthday at Sundale Palmwoods
Sundale Palmwoods resident Joyce Cunningham has celebrated her 100th birthday...
Monday afternoons at Sundale Burnside bring together gentle movement, friendly competition and plenty of conversation as residents gather for their regular game of croquet.
There’s a moment in almost every game when concentration gives way to laughter.
A ball heads somewhere unexpected, advice comes from across the lawn and someone lines up the next shot determined to do better.
For the residents who come together each week at Sundale Burnside, it’s all part of the game.
Among the regular players is Muriel Peters, who knows croquet particularly well.
Muriel has been a member of her local croquet club for around 60 years, and one fellow player affectionately describes her as the group’s “chief tutor”. She’s often ready to point someone towards the next hoop or offer a little advice when needed.
More active than it looks
Croquet may appear leisurely from the sidelines, but there is plenty happening throughout a game.
Players spend time walking between shots, lining up the ball and considering where it needs to go next.
There’s plenty for the mind to do too, with players keeping track of the sequence of hoops, thinking about their next move and watching what is happening across the lawn.
But for the Burnside group, much of the enjoyment happens between the shots.
There’s time to chat, laugh and catch up with familiar faces.
Staying connected at Sundale Burnside
For Muriel, being part of the community is nothing new.
Her connection with Sundale spans more than 70 years, including decades of volunteering and helping bring people together.
Today, Monday croquet is another simple way to stay involved, spend time with others and enjoy an activity she has known for many years.
It is also a glimpse of what retirement living can look like at Sundale Burnside – familiar faces, activities to look forward to and opportunities to stay connected with the people around you.
For people exploring retirement living on the Sunshine Coast, it is often these everyday moments that help create a sense of community.
At Burnside, sometimes that means picking up a mallet, heading out onto the lawn and seeing where the next shot takes you.
Learn more about retirement living at Sundale Burnside Community.
