As residents of a modern retirement community nestled in the Daisy Hill State Forest, it is sometimes easy to lose sight of the hardships our country cousins often face.
No one is immune from hardships in life but the comfortable surrounds and friendly faces of Elements Retirement Living can feel a world away from the battles so many rural folk endure on a daily basis, particularly in times of drought and natural disaster.
That’s why we are so proud of the way our community has banded together to raise much-needed funds for drought-stricken families and farmers affected by the bushfires that devastated the Stanthorpe region.
In recent weeks, Elements Retirement Living handed $4,080 to the Queensland Drought Appeal, with the heartfelt gesture to help supply Stanthorpe locals with the water they desperately need to tackle the ongoing drought situation.
With $2,040 donated by our generous residents, Elements Retirement Living Managing Director and Founder Chiou-See Anderson reached into her own pocket to match those funds dollar-for-dollar.
At a time when Granite Belt dams are at critically low levels, $485 will supply 22,000L of water, $25 will provide 1,000L and $1 will provide 4L to fire-ravished residents.
In the words of an emotional Chiou-See: “They may only live four hours away but the contrast with our community is astounding. I can’t imagine the strain on families of Stanthorpe and surrounds and am so pleased our community has rallied together for this wonderful cause.”
The water drive is not the first fundraising effort at Elements Retirement Living, with residents most recently raising more than $3100 for a Buy a Bale campaign earlier this year.
Residents Committee Chairperson Ian Smythe said it was second nature for the retirement community to give back where possible.
“Before the devastating fires last week, a number of farmers were already looking down the barrel of being without water by Christmas and now they have had to deplete their own water tanks to help fight the fires,” he said.
“Water in the Stanthorpe region is at an alarmingly low level and we’ve been told some school children are going to school without drinking water and some farmers can’t feed their cattle. We will be pleased if our donation can make a difference for even one or two families.”
Crucially, the donation will highlight something equally important to the beneficiaries – that a fellow community cares for them from the other side of the Great Dividing Range.
A beautiful, easy living retirement village nestled in the Daisy Hill State Forest, Springwood, Brisbane, Queensland. Our stylish 2 or 3 bedroom apartments, including garden option, offer single level access and luxury retirement communities with neighbours close by but with privacy assured.
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