First in: moving to Milldale

For Les and Mary Cave, walking through their front door at Summerset Milldale for the first time felt like coming home, despite their villa being bought off-plan and being the first residents to move into the village.

The couple, who relocated from Manly on Auckland’s Hibiscus Coast, had been looking around for a while before they found Summerset. “We knew we wanted to move into a retirement village and do it while we still had our health,” says Mary. “My sister and her husband, who coincidentally is Les’s brother, live in a retirement village. We were impressed by the spacious villa and a community facility at Summerset Milldale which will offer care options if the need arises. Care options take the pressure off the family. We ended up choosing our home whilst it was being built. There was only Nicola Redmond in the sales portacom on site at that stage, with the homes under construction. We were so impressed with Nicola’s knowledge, efficiency and helpfulness that we knew it was the right decision for us.”

The couple were admittedly daunted by the prospect of downsizing from a larger home to a two-bedroom villa. “Anna Irvine, Summerset’s moving specialist, came to us before moving and gave us advice.” Mary is pragmatic. “It is mostly just ‘stuff’, and we could go through it all together. Anna’s help was invaluable. On the day we moved in, she had directed the moving company on where to place the items. It was outstanding. When we walked through our new front door I was almost in tears. All our things had been placed perfectly. It was just like coming home.”

Although the Caves were the first to move in, they don’t feel alone. “The Village Manager is working out of the villa next door,” says Mary, “and Sales are next door to him. The staff here are all great. We also get on well with the property team. The Construction team is helpful, courteous and friendly. Several other residents have now moved in too.”

For Les, the village is ideally placed for his part-time job at the Sculptureum, the unique and creative art gallery and sculpture garden in Matakana, where he is gardener. “I have been there for eight years, before it opened to the public,” he says. “I am part of a small team there and we do get to offer our opinions to the owners on what plants will show the art in the best light. My favourite is a perennial called Gaura (‘Whirling Butterflies’ plant). We use it to great effect for displays. Funnily enough, Summerset has planted a different variety of it around the village, which I am delighted by.”

Les has a keen interest in how the gardens at Summerset will evolve. “I taught science, biology and horticulture at Mahurangi College for 27 years and I enjoy propagating plants. The pupils and I would go to Tāwharanui Regional Park and replant a lot of the natives there. There are raised planters here and our grandson Hugo and I planted the first crop of veggies, which are growing outrageously and cropping after just eight weeks.”

The Summerset temporary rec centre is in the process of being erected, and the pair are looking forward to a place where they can gather with their new community. “There are going to be some great facilities here,” says Les. “I am especially looking forward to Lumen in our villas. It will be a good way to find out what’s going on in the village.”

Although the pair are excited to be part of the new community at Milldale, they have many interests outside of the village. Mary works as a dental receptionist one day a week and is active in a book club, bridge club and a walking group. “Les and I go for a lot of walks around the Milldale area. There is plenty of variety,” she says. Les agrees. “I think as it grows it will develop into a great community. There are cycle tracks and walking paths around the perimeter, and there is lots of open space.”

This is an article from the Autumn 2024 edition of Summerset Scene magazine

Click here to read the full issue