Jazz Lunch

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

It was wonderful to have Darryl, John and Mark (aka DC3) to play for us after lunch this month. And what a show they put on! The sound was great in our lounge space, and they all played their hearts out. We so enjoyed it. We had a buffet lunch to start, with meats, salads, fresh bread and cheese…plus fruit and mini ice creams for dessert. There was wine for those who fancied a glass or two, and soft drinks for those who didn’t. We even managed a bit of dancing towards the end when we were warmed up. You just can’t beat live music, and our friendly local jazz band really pulled out all the stops. Thanks to everyone who helped out with the catering and clearing up afterwards, as well as to the band for putting on a great show for us.

Cleo's Milparinka Talk

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It was a pleasure to have our very own Cleo talk to us about the ten days she spent staffing the information centre in Milparinka, a renowned stop off for travelers to the remote Corner Country (bordered by NSW, QLD and SA). And what an interesting story it was. Cleo signed up to volunteer and off she went – it was a trek just to get anywhere near the Corner Country… 1250km from Sydney, and at the final part of the journey Cleo joined Glen driving the Tibooburra Mail to take her across to Milparinka. At the time that Cleo went to the town, it had 4 permanent residents. The Albert Hotel was still in use and several buildings designed by the colonial architect James Barnett in the town had been painstakingly restored. Milparinka has an interesting history - 10km drive from the town is Depot Glen where explorer Charles Sturt and his team were stranded for more than 6 months. Milparinka had been a thriving town in the 1870s, due to gold being discovered nearby, but when the gold ran out in the 1890s people deserted the town. The information centre was opened to explain the town’s mining heritage and agricultural history. Although a popular tourist destination among 4WD travelers and people wanting to visit all three states, Milparinka is a virtual ghost town these days. Cleo spoke about her experiences with the friendly locals, and with the not-so-friendly mice and moths that descended on her accommodation in plague numbers. She talked about traveling through the outback and the characters she met on her journeys. She showed us photos of the town, the heritage buildings, and newspaper clippings about the area. It was such an interesting and inspiring story, and the residents who came really enjoyed it. After the presentation we had a chance for questions over a cuppa and a biscuit. Thanks Cleo for giving us some insight into this fascinating time in your life.

Flora's Wedding Afternoon Tea

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Our lovely residents got together and organised a celebratory afternoon tea for Flora, who was getting married. The teas, coffees, cakes, biscuits and fruit were in plentiful supply, and everyone had the opportunity to indulge a little. We had a great turn out, with many residents coming down to wish Flora well. Rob gave her a card and a bottle of champagne on behalf of the residents and there were congratulations all round. Flora told us a bit about the wedding, what she would be wearing, and where they are going on honeymoon. It was a nice opportunity for the residents to hear more about her plans, and also to catch up themselves over a cuppa. A couple of newer residents attended as well, which gave them the opportunity to meet their new neighbours. It was a really special event and Flora felt very appreciated by everyone. Congratulations!

Fresh fruit, veg and flower market

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We were very excited to welcome Ray and Krissy of Sienna Bloom Floristry for our first flower, fruit and veg market this week. What a treat for us to have a fresh produce market right here in the Astra lounge, direct from the farmers earlier in the morning. Our residents loved being able to buy supplies for the week without having to leave the building. Ray and Krissy brought along a few extra special items for us too – homemade rice pudding, savoury pastries fresh from the oven, and freshly squeezed juices. A lovely way to start the week, and a nice opportunity to also have a catch up and a cuppa after the shopping finished. Thanks to Ray and Krissy for coming over, and we hope to forge a new partnership with them going forward so we can have a fresh food market on an ongoing and regular basis. Just one of many advantages of living at Bondi Beach Astra!

Bingo Afternoon Tea

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

Roll up roll up it’s bingo time!! We had so much fun playing bingo, while also having a catch up with friends and enjoying a light afternoon tea. It had been a while since we had a bingo event, and it was a silly and joyful occasion. Flora was our esteemed bingo caller, and she tried out her phrases on us to general amusement. We had first, second and third prizes for our lucky winners - Gillian won our bottle of champagne, Ann won our fragrances set, and Len won our box of delicious chocolates. Afternoon tea was happily received, and any food that was left went to good homes. It all came down to the wire - first place wasn’t called until there were only a few balls left! Exciting!

Fire Drill

/ Bondi Beach Astra/

Three strapping Bondi firemen came to the Astra to observe our annual fire drill! Flora held a short information session before the drill to talk through our procedure, and to answer any questions residents might have. The main things to remember are: 1, in the event of a fire alarm sounding, exit the building as quickly as possible by the fire stairs (do not use the lift). 2, don’t stop to pick up possessions on your way out. 3, meet at the fire assembly points so that village management/the fire response team know you are safely out. The drill went smoothly and our fireies stayed just long enough to make sure everything was under control. Flora got her workout for the day running up and down the fire stairs to check on residents who are less mobile! Stay safe everybody.

Technology Workshop

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

We had our first technology workshop of the year this month, and it was a big one: An A-Z of technical terms - what they mean and how to use them! We covered many different terms, from 'address bar' and 'Apple Pay' all the way through to 'Zoom app'. We had useful discussions on the differences between 'the internet', 'a search engine' and 'a web browser' (commonly used interchangeably, but actually performing different functions). We discussed the benefits and practicalities of cloud backup, the importance of using websites that send encrypted data, and different file types, uploads and downloads. There were plenty of questions and anecdotes and useful comments from all who attended, so thank you for making it a very helpful session.

St Patrick's Day Lunch

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Our St Patrick’s Day ploughman’s lunch was a bright and fun-filled affair. The decorations were up, and green hair/hats/glasses/clothes were out in full force. Anna put on a lovely buffet, with plenty of savoury and sweet treats, as well as her now (in)famous soda bread. Guinness and Magners brought an extra Irish touch to the occasion. The atmosphere was happy and light, with Irish tunes in the background, lots of compliments of the day, and jokes and storytelling around the tables. We all had a great time, and the festivities continued well into the afternoon. Special thanks to the residents who helped with setting up and clearing up afterwards – we really couldn’t do this without you.

Chair Yoga and Meditation

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

The lovely Nicola came out to Bondi Beach Astra to run a chair yoga and meditation event for us this month. Residents and outside friends gathered in the lounge for a catch up (or a get to know you), before Nicola called the session to order. What a relaxing and restorative way to start the day! A focus on breathing, on stretching, on meditation, and the hour went by so fast that we couldn’t believe it was over. Thanks to Nicola for her expertise and instruction, and to everyone who came to enjoy this calming and happy event.

Pancake Day Crepes

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

It’s that time of year again - Shrove Tuesday (or Pancake Day for the ex-pat Brits) came around again and we had our customary pancakes to mark the occasion. Anna cooked crepes in the kitchen for 3 hours, while residents enjoyed chatting and catching up with friends over a warm pancake with all the toppings. We had fresh fruit, cream, ice cream, jam, Nutella, maple syrup, and lemon and sugar for the purists. There really was something for everyone - even gluten-free pancakes for a couple of residents, which we made for the first time and were, happily, a success. We had new residents and old residents, and prospective residents attend, which was a lovely mix and gave the newer residents an opportunity to meet their neighbours. It was a truly joyful occasion, and thanks to everyone who came and helped to make it such a great success. We love pancakes!!

Wenatex Seminar

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

Brett from Wenatex The Sleep System came to Bondi Beach Astra to talk to us about healthy sleep and what we can do to improve our sleep. Lots of residents were interested in the subject matter, and they enjoyed having the opportunity to come and listen and to ask questions. Brett brought tea, coffee, cakes and goodie bags with him, so we had plenty of things to keep us going all afternoon! He spoke to us about sleep hygiene practices, posture, circadian rhythms and sleep’s role in good brain health. He also showed us some of the company’s products and told us how they can help. A few residents bought items from him at the end of the presentation, and I’m sure we will be seeing Brett again in the future. Thanks to everyone who came and helped to make it a fun and informative session.

Berry Bus Trip

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Our first bus trip of the year was to the lovely town of Berry. A gaggle of keen day trippers gathered at 9am to get on the bus, and then they were away... A great opportunity while on the bus to catch up with friends, to sing silly songs, and to have a good laugh! In Berry some went to have lunch, some to do shopping, still others to have a wander around. The showery weather did nothing to dampen their spirits, and it was a lovely time away from home.

Australia Day Dinner

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

A good number of residents gathered in the lounge, bedecked with Aussie flags, for our Australia Day bring and share dinner. There was a wonderful spread, from meats to cheeses to dips to fruit, and many more lovely offerings in between. It was a bright and happy occasion for friends to get together and catch up. Thanks go to Rob, our wonderful Residents’ Representative, for organising and cooking extra food, and for hosting so well on the night. A great way to start the year, with positive vibes moving forward…

Magic Show Afternoon Tea

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

We had an afternoon tea with a difference when local magician Julian Bull put on a show for us at the Astra. In addition to the snacks and beverages, we enjoyed a visual feast of card manipulation, rope tricks, ball slight of hand and all sorts of other delights. Julian was a skilled performer and engaged his audience from the outset. We even had some younger family members watching the show, which contributed to the lovely community occasion. Cards found their way everywhere – behind ears, in beards, coming out of mouths… Ropes that were long were suddenly split into smaller pieces, and those that were smaller were joined together into one continuous rope. Rubik’s cubes were solved in the blink of an eye. Suffice it to say we were mesmerised and thoroughly enjoyed our magical tea!

Waverley Council and the Astra Building Futures

/ Bondi Beach Astra/

We are incredibly proud that the Astra has been a Round Three participant building in Waverley Council’s award-winning Building Futures program. Our project involved the upgrade of all the lighting in the building to achieve energy savings, lowering our greenhouse gas emissions. To see more about the program visit Waverley Council’s website.

And energy efficiency is just the start of it! When she visited us, Mayor Paula Masselos was also impressed by the recycling projects that Bondi Beach Astra and the residents have adopted. In addition to the mixed recycling that we already had, last year we joined a council scheme to install textiles recycling bins in the building. Little by little we are trying to do our bit for sustainability and the environment into 2023 and beyond…

New Year's Eve at the Astra

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

Our resident-run New Year's Eve gathering was well-attended, and everyone had a lovely relaxing time. We gathered in the evening, all bringing a plate and drinks... and what a feast we had!! It was a wonderful way to finish off the year and to herald in the new one. A get-together like this gave us a great opportunity to reflect on 2022 at the Astra. We had lots of varied social events, from tried and tested classics (St Patrick's Day lunch, Christmas party, wine tasting, morning/afternoon/high teas...) to new and exciting activities (Zumba, art workshop, jazz lunch, fashion show...), to informative talks and presentations. We began our new carpeting works, replacing the carpets in the lounge, games room and on the fifth floor, and finished off our refurbishment of the foyer. We welcomed new residents into the building, and new members onto the Executive Committee. Too many other highlights to mention, but now we are looking forward to a happy, healthy and fun 2023. From us all at Bondi Beach Astra, Happy New Year!

Christmas Party 2022

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

We got dressed up and gathered in the lounge for our first Christmas drink, on this beautiful early summer day. We all really felt need for a break and a chance to celebrate! There was a definite festive spirit in the air as we went round to the Tratt for our dinner of turkey and ham and all the trimmings. Alasdair, Joe and their whole fabulous team did a great job as always – the food was delicious, the atmosphere convivial, the wine flowing. Suitably full, we returned to the lounge to the beautiful sounds of John Campbell and Lorraine Delaney - our wonderful musicians for the night. After a break for speeches and the drawing of the lucky door prizes, some of us took to the dance floor, while others stayed chatting and enjoying their drinks and desserts. What a lovely time to spend with friends, neighbours and colleagues. Thanks to everyone who came to celebrate with us, and to those who had a hand in organising the night. Special thanks go to John and Lorraine for staying with us to the end and providing a fabulous celebratory atmosphere. And to Sam and Natasha for providing the great selection of lucky door prizes. All in all, a fantastic send off into the hectic whirlwind of the season. Cheers!

Piano Afternoon

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

Local pianist Thomas Hamilton came to regale us with an hour of 40s and 50s tunes. He brought out all the post-war classics and delighted his audience by taking requests. It was a relaxing way to spend an afternoon, listening to music, snacking on some salty and sweet treats, and catching up with friends. Tom was friendly, and of course passionate about his music. We loved having him, and it whetted our appetites for more live music…coming up at our Christmas party.

INS Lifeguard Medical Alarm Presentation

/ Bondi Beach Astra Lounge/

It’s never too late to stop learning! We were grateful to have Jo from INS Lifeguard come to the Astra to talk to us about our medical alarm system. We have had this system in the village for a few years now, but there are so many more things that we can do with it, and it is always good to have a refresher. Jo ran us through what our system does, how it works, and how to test it regularly. She also told us that the pendant/watch button is waterproof, and she advised us to wear it in the shower as well as around the house.

The nurses at INS are available 24/7 and are there to help with emergencies, but also to provide welfare checks and just a chat if we need someone to talk to. Jo also provided information about services that are extra, for example a button that is GPS enabled that can be worn out and about in case of a fall. There are online portals for residents and village managers, to make sure that INS has all the most up to date information, and which can give us extra information if we want it. The presentation was well attended and those that came got a lot out of it. Thanks to Jo for coming and answering all of our questions, and to all the residents who came to listen to her.

Melbourne Cup 2022

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What a lovely day at the races! We were so happy to gather on cup day to have lunch, catch up, and watch the race. Flora did an amazing job of organising and running the event, on very little notice (unfortunately Anna was sick and not able to attend). She brought delicious food and festive drinks – there was something for everyone. The lounge was beautifully decorated with bright colours and horse racing themed cutouts, and the fabulous clothing, hats and fascinators of the residents added to this festival atmosphere. After lunch Penny and Rob organised the sweeps, and we moved into the games room to watch the TV coverage. The race itself was exciting, the ups and downs and surprises keeping us all on our toes! Congratulations to everyone who had a winning horse, and thanks to all those that came to celebrate the Melbourne Cup with us. Special thanks to Flora for doing such a great job of putting on this important event. Always a highlight in our calendar, and always lots of fun.