This month, we caught up with a group of active retirees who agree that the North Shore is the perfect place to slow down, settle in and enjoy the freedom of modern retirement village living.
Rob Arblaster - The Poynton Retirement Village
Born in Birkenhead, Rob Arblaster has always lived on the North Shore. His surname is well known in Northcote, where he and his brothers and cousins grew up, as the hill on which the family farm was built came to be called Arblaster’s Hill. Working in the finance and insurance industry from his forties, Rob achieved several high-performance awards, ultimately being awarded membership of the prestigious Million-Dollar Roundtable. Rob is perhaps even better known for his sporting prowess in the 1960s and '70s – he was captain of the Tall Blacks and played for Auckland Cricket.
Channel Mag: How long have you been a part of the North Shore community and what were you known for before you retired?
Rob Arblaster: My family settled at Northcote Point in the late 1880s. I completed all my schooling in Northcote. Excluding my family, my passion was to achieve sporting success. This started on my arrival at Northcote College when I met the outstanding PE teacher, Les Fiddes, who introduced me to the great game of basketball. Early on, Stu Inman, a USA professional coach, arrived and conducted an excellent clinic. With Les Fiddes' help, this resulted in me captaining the 1968 New Zealand Junior team to the Australian State Championships. I was also awarded the Ambassador’s Trophy for the best junior player that year. From there I progressed through annual New Zealand National Championships until in 1973 I was selected as captain of the Tall Blacks. After three years, I shifted my focus from basketball to achieving first-class cricket selection for Auckland, where I was fortunate to be a member of the team that won the Shell Trophy in 1978-79.
Have you branched out into any new interests, hobbies and sports since retiring?
Yes, particularly playing some of the many sports available here at The Poynton. My favourite is lawn bowls, which my wife Robyn is pleased about as there’s not a lot of travel involved! For all the time I spent away with cricket, Robyn was left at home to manage our three under-five-year-old children. As one example, I left home early one Christmas Day to fly to Lancaster Park to play cricket, then on to Carisbrook. I am pleased to record that we are still married! I did make up quite a lot of lost ground over the years to the point where I think Robyn has almost forgiven me, as she seems quite content enjoying the Poynton lifestyle.
How long have you lived at The Poynton, and what are your favourite aspects of living there?
We’ve been in residence 11 years now, with never a moment of regret. The facilities here are outstanding, as are the residents, the management and staff. Favourite features include the Men's Shed, a large workshop with an extensive range of tools as well as the pool, spa and gym, table tennis, international-sized snooker table, indoor bowls and lawn bowls, croquet and pétanque, and the golf putting practice green. And of course we can’t forget the café and restaurant and the bar with Happy Hour!
What’s your advice to new North Shore retirees for making the most of their retirement?
I would wholeheartedly suggest that new retirees 'go early' into a retirement village where they can hopefully enjoy their current good health with existing and new friends, plus the range of on-site benefits which provide for an extended latter stage of life.
Where’s your favourite place on the North Shore to meet friends, or what do you most enjoy doing together locally?
There are a number of neat places for catching up with our friends. After the Poynton Café, our favourite would have to be La Tropezienne Café in Milford. And Robyn and I always make up a table with friends for the roast dinner nights here at the onsite restaurant.
Norman Lodge - Settlers Lifestyle Village
Born in Liverpool, Norman has lived in England, New Zealand and Singapore. He has spent many years working as a renowned food scientist, being awarded such accolades as the New Zealand 1990 Queen’s Commemoration Medal, the J C Andrews Award for Distinction in Food Technology, the New Zealand Ministerial Award for Excellence in Technology, and the New Zealand Institute of Food Science & Technology Distinguished Service Award for research and leadership in fruit processing research. He is an elected fellow of the Singapore Institute of Food Science and Technology, as well as a Fellow of the New Zealand Institute of Food Science and Technology and of the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry. He was chief judge of the New Zealand Food Awards for three years and honorary lecturer in Food Science and Food Chemistry at the University of Auckland. He was responsible for the establishment and operation of the DSIR ASEAN Centre, Singapore, and for the development of a strategic base in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He worked in international aid development for 20 years, contributing to science-related projects.
Channel Mag: How long have you been a part of the North Shore community and what were you known for before you retired?
Norman Lodge: Sixty years, apart from the time I spent undertaking post-graduate studies in England and six years based in Singapore. I joined U3A Takapuna (University of the Third Age) where I was vice president, president (2007-2009) and speaker coordinator. I spoke regularly to local groups such as U3A, Probus, Rotary, Lions, NZ Friendship and SeniorNet on food and Asian culture. I have continued to address many such groups. And I raced on a Spencer 30 half-tonner for 20 years with Richmond Yacht Club, racing to Fiji.
Have you branched out into any new interests, hobbies and sports since retiring?
I have taken up golf. I get much better rewards from the cost of a round than my friends, as I get to hit the ball many more times than they do! I’m also involved in lawn bowls, studying astronomy and geology, and helping residents to follow gym programmes at the gym here. I have also organised school music visits and other groups visiting Settlers Lifestyle Village for 11 years.
How long have you lived at Settlers Village, and what are your favourite aspects of living there?
My wife and I have lived at Settlers for 11 years. My chief enjoyments have been attending concerts (and assisting with them); talking to residents and staff; playing bowls; attending the gym and helping people with programmes; enjoying the content of the library and viewing the monthly displays of photographs taken by our photographic group members; using the blokes’ workshop occasionally; attending our monthly wine group; enjoying local amenities, particularly the nearby Kell Park; delightful meals and snacks at our Tui Café; the beauty of the well maintained garden environment; the cleanliness of the buildings, both inside and outside; and the peace of mind provided by excellent nursing staff. And the two Happy Hours per week go without saying!
What’s your advice to new North Shore retirees for making the most of their retirement?
Once you have chosen your retirement hot-spot, put up your hand to help. In other words, get involved. As well as taking advantage of all the opportunities presented by other residents, try to find an area where you can give back a little to help the community overall. Settlers is a place where we help each other and, at the end of the day, it all comes down to people.
Where’s your favourite place on the North Shore to meet friends, or what do you most enjoy doing together locally?
Settlers Village lounge on Wednesday and Friday evenings when we have Happy Hour! A good second is Orewa – beach and township.
Linda Dunsmore – Rosedale Retirement Living Village
Linda was born and raised in Auckland, building a home in Birkdale with her husband Dawson in the 1960s when the area was being promoted as a new suburb for modern housing. Linda worked at the Chief Post Office in central Auckland dealing with mail and telegrams until she became a very busy mother to three children under five years old. She has always had a leaning towards art and crafts, perhaps an inherited talent from her father who was a cartoonist for the Auckland Weekly News and created the ‘Down Family’ cartoon series.
Channel Mag: How long have you been a part of the North Shore community and what were you known for before you retired?
Linda Dunsmore: We moved to the North Shore in the 1960s, and I was best known as a busy mum in the “nappy valley” that was Birkdale at the time! I also developed a keen interest in taking night school classes in things like ceramics and pottery.
Have you branched out into any new interests, hobbies and sports since retiring?
I’ve had the time to explore and enjoy many different kinds of art and crafts. I’ve done jewellery making with resin, beads and decoupage, flower pressing and making cards, and of course there’s always knitting and crocheting. We have space in the village for me to spread out and do crafts downstairs. I’ve also got very keen on quizzes, crosswords and brain games. We have lots of quiz afternoons at the village and also compete in the international quiz against other villages once a month.
How long have you lived at Rosedale Village, and what are your favourite aspects of living there?
I’ve lived here three years, and I love the staff and the residents here. The staff are friendly and always ready to help. The gardens here are lovely, and there is a garden bure where you can go and listen to the birds sing, and a fishpond full of fish. I’m also a keen partaker in the regular coffee outings that the village organises; we go to a different café, garden centre, museum or gallery each time. The one at the Torpedo Bay Navy Museum was particularly good. I love the way the staff always have fun activities and celebrations happening for everyone to enjoy.
What’s your advice to new North Shore retirees for making the most of their retirement?
When you’re choosing a village to live in, take notice of how happy the residents seem to be, and how the staff seem. That’s a good sign! I recommend that once you’ve moved in, make sure you go to events and outings, and you’ll quickly meet people and make new friends. Rosedale Village is such a welcoming place; the staff and residents always make new people feel very welcome.
Where’s your favourite place on the North Shore to meet friends, or what do you most enjoy doing together locally?
My favourite café is Black and Gold in Triton Drive. Great food, and they have such funny toilets there too! I also love to visit a garden centre and be amongst the flowers and plants. My favourites are Palmers Greville Road and Kings Plant Barn in Silverdale; they both have an amazing selection of giftware as well.
Larry Summerville - Bert Sutcliffe Retirement Living Village
Larry was born and raised in Waiuku and is well known as a radio broadcaster. He first got involved in radio at Auckland University at Radio Bosom, which became BFM. He then trained as a teacher at Auckland Teachers College and taught at Panmure District School and did weekend stints on Radio Hauraki and Christmas broadcasting at Radio IXX Whakatane. He went on to run a radio station in Palmerston North, followed by a return to Auckland in 1989, where he ran 91 FM and then went on to start More FM Auckland.
Channel Mag: How long have you been a part of the North Shore community and what were you known for before you retired?
Larry Summerville: Liz and I have been part of the Birkenhead community since 1989. I’ve been married to Liz for 51 years, and she’s still my best friend! I was on the board of Birkenhead Primary School and chair of Northcote Intermediate. Later in life, I became a wedding and funeral celebrant, which I’m still doing, so I’m only semi-retired.
Have you branched out into any new interests, hobbies and sports since retiring?
One of the great things about coming into a retirement village is that you don’t have to be fully retired; you can have a life both inside and outside the village. I’ve recently been travelling around the country as part of the Māori Media Network (MMN) visiting a number of iwi radio stations. I do have a little more time for playing golf; I’ve been a member at Waitematā for 15 years.
How long have you lived at Bert Sutcliffe Village, and what are your favourite aspects of living there?
We lived across the road when Bert Sutcliffe Village was being built and flagged our interest in eventually moving here. We grabbed the opportunity two years ago when an apartment of our choice became available; some people probably thought we could have waited a few more years before entering a village, but it was a great opportunity to be in control of selling our own house, reducing our possessions and saving our kids from having that job later on. It’s also so much less stress here: no maintenance, no lawns, you can just lock and leave the apartment when you’re travelling. Bert Sutcliffe is a friendly place and is our home now. Whatever you need is available, and they have continuation of care right through to hospital care. We know that as work-life subsides there are more facilities here we can take advantage of; currently we’re users of the library and the pool, and I have had some coaching in bowls. We also love that we look out over Kauri Park; you have all the convenience of living close to town, but it can feel like you’re living in the bush.
What’s your advice to new North Shore retirees for making the most of their retirement?
It is a big change to make the decision to move into a village. We got rid of 75% of our possessions, and two years later we haven’t missed any of it! So take your time to make the decision, and when you get there, sit down and chat with the other residents. We have some highly accomplished people at Bert Sutcliffe, all with amazing life stories to tell.
Where’s your favourite place on the North Shore to meet friends, or what do you most enjoy doing together locally?
We love going to our own café at Bert Sutcliffe or Little D in Birkenhead, and we regularly enjoy walking around the local area. The North Shore is such a great place to live; we’re glad that our village is in an environment we know, full of places we’re comfortable with and close to our family.
