Ken and Davina Carruthers with Karinya Village manager Lynda Green outside their home.
The only regret Ken and Davina Carruthers have about moving into retirement living is that they didn’t do it sooner.
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After more than 50 years of marriage and decades on Sydney’s North Shore, the couple never expected to stumble across their perfect home at a Probus meeting held inside Southern Cross Care’s Karinya Village.
“I wasn’t looking for a new home, but when I walked into the village and saw the beautiful homes I thought, ‘Gee, this would be a nice place to live’ and when I brought my wife to have a look the next day she agreed - it was love at first sight.”
Six years later, that feeling hasn’t faded.
“We love the surroundings. The house has everything,” Ken says. “We’ve got our own gardens, and we look out onto a beautiful paddock with cattle and sheep. Lambing season is a lovely time to live here.”
One of Ken and Davina’s “neighbours” who lives in the paddock that backs onto their home.
But it’s the people who make Karinya truly special. “The residents are all so friendly. You can knock on anyone’s door and always get a smile and a chat.”
Ken and Davina enjoy full independence with support close by when needed. Village manager Lynda and Support at Home worker Bonnie are “a breath of fresh air,” Ken says. “They brighten the place the moment they walk in.”
“Living here gives us independence, not the big house we thought we needed. Everything is close by - the hospital, shops, clubs and doctors. We’re 86 and 85 and have our health challenges but can live here because of the support available.
“Don’t wait. If we’d known the village was here earlier, we would have moved straight in.”
Experience Karinya Village for yourself at our Community Open Day – Wednesday, July 8, 10am–12pm, 125 Guy Street, Corowa.
Tour the village, meet residents, enjoy giveaways and discover the community Ken and Davina love.
A beautiful sunset pictured from Ken and Davina’s picturesque backyard.
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