A welcoming wave kind of community

Retirees Robert and Karren Strahan were watching television last winter when an advertisement for Stockland’s Halcyon Rise community came on and they both looked at each other and nodded. 

“We both said at the same time: we should go and have a look at that and so we did,” Robert says. 

“And we were both impressed from the moment we first walked through the display home front doors.” 

The dog-doting owners wanted more space and a backyard for their Labradoodles to run around and the over 50s community on the Logan River piqued their interest. 

The Strahans are the 100th couple to buy a home in the gated community and almost a year since seeing the TV advertisement, have just finished setting up their two-bedroom home. 

Their dogs, Coco and Queenie, are happier than ever. 

“The dogs have settled in really well,” Robert says. 

“They have the entire backyard to run around in and we are really looking forward to having the on-site dog park where we can take them for a big run around.” 

The Strahans have moved from a two-bedroom Wynnum unit and away from wonderful friendships they have fostered over 16 years but say they’ve already made new friends to add to their existing ones. 

“We walked into happy hour last night and straight away a couple we’ve never met were waving us down and inviting us to sit with them,” Robert says. 

“I can’t get around the golf course like I used to so I’m planning on learning lawn bowls and this couple have already asked me to a game!” 

Robert says they’ve already met all the neighbours on their street. 

He says they are thrilled their new community is just as friendly as Wynnum. 

“We were both impressed with the welcome we received from the very beginning,” Robert says. 

“We were walking the dogs yesterday and people at the far end of the street just spotted us and waved, workmen have walked past us and said ‘good morning’ and tha’s the atmosphere that attracted us to Halcyon Rise. 

“That’s not by chance. That warm welcome is fostered by the management.” 

Karren says she is excited about the facilities and is particularly looking forward to starting aqua aerobics. 

“This is the perfect size house for us, it means I won’t be cleaning all the time,” Karren says. 

“It was difficult to move away from Wynnum but we love living here.” 

“After we looked around at what else was available, it was a very easy decision to move here.”