Remaining close to family and friends, and the things they love doing, is extremely important to Ross and Bev Worboys. Moving to Manningtree will give them that, and much more.
“We always felt that if we were ever going to make the move into retirement living, we were never going to move far away. This is where our friends are, and Manningtree will enable us to do that very well,” Ross said.
Ross and Bev have lived in Hawthorn for almost 40 years, and their three daughters and six grandchildren all live locally.
They ‘downsized’ from the family home to a century-old Edwardian house when Ross retired from his job at Trinity Grammar 18 years ago. While they love the house and garden, they know it will soon start to become a burden.
“The house is in good order, but it will need maintaining and that’s another thing we won’t have to bother about when we move to Manningtree,” he said.
“The family feel that it’s a good move and that we ought to be making moves that will benefit us for the remainder of our life span. They were quite comfortable with that.”
Like most retirees, Ross and Bev enjoy regular catch-ups with friends and are members of local groups.
Bev is involved in the Melbourne Women’s Walking Group and every Friday gets together with friends to play Mahjong.
Ross enjoys his weekly nine holes of golf, and is a keen volunteer gardener with the National Trust at Como House.
“Making the move to Manningtree is not going to affect any of that,” Ross said. “People can just as easily come to visit us at Manningtree as they do at Riversdale Road.”
They’re also looking forward to extending their social activities with their new neighbours.
“I do think we will enjoy the community side of it. The gym and garden area, the social side; we will quite quickly get into it,” Ross said.
Ross and Bev have already met some of their new neighbours at the social events at Balwyn Palace Cinemas and the Camberwell Art Show.
“I think it’s a good idea that we start to get to know our new Manningtree neighbours. We are looking forward to the next event,” he said.