Words Laura Vald Images Brydie Thompson
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On Friday evenings, the hardest part isn’t finding something to do. It’s finding an empty seat.
As the last of the afternoon sun spills through the floor-to-ceiling windows, the lounge begins to fill. Someone fires up the jukebox and moments later nostalgic tunes from the 50s and 60s are drifting through the room. Glasses clink. The aroma of burgers wafts in the door as neighbours wander in, stopping every few steps to greet a familiar face or welcome a new one.
Forty or so residents have gathered for what is soon to become a regular on their social calendar. The laughter and easy banter make it hard to tell who has lived here for years and who arrived a few months ago.
Neighbours are chatting like old friends, newcomers are being drawn into conversations and connections are forming without anyone really noticing, which is exactly what the residents’ committee at The Bayview Retirement Village was hoping for.
Barry is the barman at most of the get-togethers the committee organises. Everyone knows Barry, and his warm, laid-back personality makes him a natural.
Barry has been at The Bayview for 10 years and on the residents’ committee for eight. He’s the thread that connects The Bayview’s past with its present. “Barry has the knowledge, the history,” explains Christine.
Christine is a fairly recent arrival and a self-confessed serial committee member. “When I left high school, I moved to the YWCA in Wellington. Within two weeks, I’d joined their residents’ committee.” She’s an organiser – always willing to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in. Christine’s philosophy is you can’t complain if you don’t get involved.
For Bev, joining the residents’ committee was her way of getting to know her new community. She quickly became a familiar face, helping out at events and selling raffle tickets to top up the village library’s shelves with the latest bestsellers.
“The committee is as varied as our community,” says Christine. “We’ve got pub owners and ex-bankers. Everyone brings fresh ideas and experience.”
The committee starts with a simple premise: What would people enjoy doing or learning about?
Most of the inspiration comes from the residents themselves. The seed of an idea could form over a game of bowls, during a chat in a sunny corner of the lounge or a leisurely soak in the spa pool. Some are scribbled on bits of paper and put into the suggestion box. If enough people are keen, the committee goes to work.
Malcolm is usually the friendly face behind the wheel of the village van. He’s become the village travel coordinator – organising outings of all sorts – from rugby matches and leisurely lunches to an evening trip to McLaren Falls, where the group were captivated by thousands of tiny glowworms illuminating the leafy banks.
Not every adventure involves leaving the village, however.
Residents have turned their passions into clubs and special interest groups, from book discussions and genealogy to wine appreciation and a church group. “And if people want to explore something new, we’ll try and make it happen,” says Christine. “We ran a session on how to use Sharesies that was quite popular.”
The invitation to take part is always just that – an invitation. “When you hear new residents say, ‘I don’t know how to do that’, we just get a few people together and show them how, then others join in,” says Gwenda. “There’s never any judgement.”
“It’s the collaborative spirit between residents and the village team that makes this more than just a place to live,” says sales manager Catherine Weedon. “From the warm welcome extended to newcomers to the support for resident-led ideas, there’s a genuine sense of community here.”
Ten years on, Barry has no doubt about what makes The Bayview feel like home. “It’s the vibes – good vibes,” he says. “It’s a happy place. There’s always laughter.”
“And the views aren’t bad either,” Gwenda says, gesturing towards the floor-to-ceiling windows as the estuary catches the late afternoon light, the flat calm water stretching towards Mount Maunganui.
Bev remembers when she was a nervous newcomer not so long ago. “I came here and drove around the roundabout a few times,” she recalls. “I thought, ‘I’ll get up enough nerve just to walk in the door.’ I must have visited three or four times just having a look.” Now she’s welcoming new residents through that same door.
“If you’re hesitant,” she says, “speak to the people who live here. After all, they know what life at The Bayview is really like.”
On Friday evenings, that’s easy enough to do.
Just follow the music drifting from the jukebox, the bursts of laughter spilling out of the lounge and the unmistakable aroma of a Kiwi barbecue. Before long, someone will be waving you over, pulling up a chair and making room for one more.
