Anthony Wilding Retirement Village, in Aidanfield, Halswell, boasts fantastic views of both the Port Hills and the Southern Alps.
But that is not what residents Jack and Helen Allan love most about the village.
“It’s a nice balance here for us, not too busy but not too quiet,” says Jack. “It feels like home.’’
Jack and Helen moved into their townhouse at the end of last year and even though home was a farm down Ashburton way for most of their lives, Jack and Helen settled into the community at Anthony Wilding easily.
“We’re farmers, so it’s a wee bit strange to come to Christchurch when such a big part of our lives was spent in mid-Canterbury and Ashburton,” says Jack.
“But we like the ambiance of Anthony Wilding and it’s on the right side of Christchurch for us.”
One of the reasons the couple chose the village was that Ryman had a range of different care options.
“We also like the fact that the care goes all the way through, care that we may or may not need in the years ahead,” says Jack.
“Ryman sort of set the standard, and I followed their progress throughout the years. Coming to a Ryman village wasn’t a hard decision for us; leaving Ashburton was.”
The move from the farm was prompted by thinking of the future. “We’re both getting to that age and we’re trying to be proactive,” says Jack.
Anthony Wilding offers independent townhouses, serviced apartments, and a care centre.
The village includes an all-weather bowling green, indoor heated swimming pool, spa, internal atrium, library, gym, hair and beauty salon, bar and shop.
Sales advisor, Susie Alayne, says that because the village is so established it has beautiful gardens, a strong sense of community and the setting is also unique.
“We’ve got a wonderful bus system, you can go directly out to Halswell road and get the bus, and you have the bus on Aidanfield Drive that goes to Wigram and Hornby,” says Susie.
The size of the village is also a bonus. “We have all the benefits of a big village but small enough that everyone still knows everyone else,” says Susie.
“It’s also brilliantly positioned for people on the Banks Peninsula. Even though we are not a brand new village, our townhouses look gorgeous as they are kept up to date.”
Susie says that the benefit of a townhouse is that it offers complete independence but with the added bonus of having a safety net for times when you might need some help.
“You have your own privacy and independence and you can do everything you have always done, but you also have support and back-up,” says Susie.
“Our townhouses do appeal to the younger residents as they can just close the door and go on holiday but have the confidence that everything left behind will be safe. They can call the shots.”
For Jack and Helen, the fact that they can visit their friends in the city, and go play tennis, without ever having to worry about their home is what retiring is all about. “It feels like home” says Jack.
The couple are enjoying life and participating in as many activities as they can.
“While we enjoy our independence, we do feel part of the community,” says Helen. “We’re very lucky,” Jack adds.
