{"id":4728,"date":"2025-09-04T10:29:31","date_gmt":"2025-09-04T10:29:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/?p=4728"},"modified":"2025-09-04T10:30:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T10:30:23","slug":"as-verna-and-dorothy-show-unbreakable-friendships-happen-in-retirement-villages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/retirement\/as-verna-and-dorothy-show-unbreakable-friendships-happen-in-retirement-villages\/","title":{"rendered":"As Verna and Dorothy show unbreakable friendships happen in retirement villages"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4728\" class=\"elementor elementor-4728\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-244d29b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"244d29b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9beeb61\" data-id=\"9beeb61\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6ba925b elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6ba925b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;drop_cap&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>T<strong>hree years ago, across a dinner table, a cheeky smile from Verna Hewson, accompanied by a glass of red wine, caught Dorothy Aylward&#8217;s attention.<\/strong><\/p><p>That moment sparked a connection that has blossomed into an inseparable friendship.<\/p><p>It took place at Beckett Restaurant, the on-site dining establishment in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theweeklysource.com.au\/acquisitions\/brookfield-sells-retirement-village-operator-aveo-for-385b\">Aveo<\/a>&#8216;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au\/vic\/north-east-melbourne\/concierge-balwyn-retirement-living-3892\">Concierge Balwyn Retirement Living<\/a> in Balwyn, 10km east of Melbourne&#8217;s CBD.<\/p><p>&#8220;When I first met her, I didn&#8217;t know her age at the time,&#8221; Dorothy recalled. &#8220;She reminded me of my mother, and from then on, we became buddies. One day, I asked if she&#8217;d like to have a cup of coffee, as I knew we were going to be pals, and I wanted her to meet my husband, Frank.&#8221;<\/p><p>Since that first coffee, the pair have shared countless adventures. From bus trips and coffee dates to garden nursery visits and long chats in each other&#8217;s apartments, their bond continues to grow stronger with each passing day.<\/p><p>&#8220;We have so much in common,&#8221; Verna shared. &#8220;We both love clothes shopping, ice skating, and we were both runners in our younger days. But above all, family is the most important thing in our lives.&#8221;<\/p><p>Verna&#8217;s affection extends to Dorothy&#8217;s husband, Frank, too.<\/p><p>&#8220;She likes baking him treats,&#8221; Dorothy laughed. &#8220;Her caramel slice is one of the best I have ever tasted.&#8221;<\/p><p>Dorothy added, &#8220;Verna is so busy that I have to make an appointment to see her! But it is always worth it, we can sit in comfortable silence for hours, have a wine and a chat or laugh until our faces are sore. It is a true friendship!&#8221;<\/p><p>&#8220;Being a doctor&#8217;s wife, I think she&#8217;s got so much humility. She can see the good in everyone and is a genuine person. I feel very lucky.&#8221;<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ff8a600 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ff8a600\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ada7df8\" data-id=\"ada7df8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4896087 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"4896087\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.15.0 - 20-08-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Picture7-1024x683.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4731\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Picture7-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Picture7-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Picture7-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Picture7-1536x1025.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Picture7-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Picture7-585x390.jpg 585w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Picture7.jpg 1878w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-763aed6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"763aed6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-357259e\" data-id=\"357259e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3fafceb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"3fafceb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Verna agreed wholeheartedly. &#8220;I didn&#8217;t think at my age that I would find such a good friend. But I am so grateful that I have. I feel so relaxed in her company. We can tell each other anything and often do without fear of judgement or criticism.&#8221;<\/p><p>When asked what the best part of their friendship is, Verna said, &#8220;I am completely comfortable with her. Silence is easy. Dorothy is always there for me.&#8221;<\/p><p>Verna and Dorothy\u2019s story is a beautiful reminder that it&#8217;s never too late to find a new friend and that the most meaningful connections can blossom at any age.<\/p><p>Retirement living presents that opportunity. Concierge Balwyn Retirement Living has one- and two-bedroom apartments available, price range: $745,000 to $870,000.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Three years ago, across a dinner table, a cheeky smile from Verna Hewson, accompanied by a glass of red wine, caught Dorothy Aylward&#8217;s attention. That moment sparked a connection that has blossomed into an inseparable friendship. It took place at Beckett Restaurant, the on-site dining&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4729,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[70],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4728","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-retirement"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4728","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4728"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4728\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4734,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4728\/revisions\/4734"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4729"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4728"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4728"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4728"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}