{"id":5021,"date":"2025-11-12T23:56:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-12T23:56:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/?p=5021"},"modified":"2025-11-13T00:00:40","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T00:00:40","slug":"living-their-best-life-village-residents-go-indoor-skydiving","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.villages.com.au\/retirement\/living-their-best-life-village-residents-go-indoor-skydiving\/","title":{"rendered":"Living their best life &#8211; village residents go indoor skydiving"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5021\" class=\"elementor elementor-5021\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3a7db45 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3a7db45\" 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-33ea57a\" data-id=\"33ea57a\" 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-200591c elementor-drop-cap-yes elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"200591c\" 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>A<strong>fter being inspired by Marcus Pearce at the National Retirement Living summit in June, Mel Akehurst, Community Manager at Aveo\u2019s Bayview Gardens retirement village, challenged residents to live their best life.<\/strong><\/p><p>\u201cAt first the residents suggested jumping out of a plane but I wasn\u2019t keen, so we settled on indoor skydiving,\u2019\u2019 Mel told <a href=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au\/\">villages.com.au<\/a>.<\/p><p>\u2018The residents like to think outside the box. They are up for anything. They have a lot of living to do. Their families can\u2019t believe what they get up to.\u2019\u2019<\/p><p>Twelve of them, eldest 87, elected for indoor skydiving and they did it with Retirement Living Council Executive Director Daniel Gannon as special guest at iFLY at Penrith.<\/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-ad07be7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ad07be7\" 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-5d53d68\" data-id=\"5d53d68\" 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-9c71de4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"9c71de4\" 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=\"601\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture7.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5024\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture7.png 601w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture7-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture7-585x390.png 585w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/>\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-b2fb02c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b2fb02c\" 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-571918c\" data-id=\"571918c\" 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-c2529b3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c2529b3\" 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>This was a two-lesson package but they might do more flies in future<\/p><p>\u201cThey showed that retirement living is not about walkers and staring out a window all day &#8211; it&#8217;s about experiences, connection and fun,\u201d said Mel, who was named the Retirement Living Council\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theweeklysource.com.au\/dcm-institute-shines-at-the-2025-national-retirement-living-awards\/\">National Village Manager of the Year<\/a> this year.<\/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-4d46234 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4d46234\" 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-0fb57ed\" data-id=\"0fb57ed\" 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-859d38b elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"859d38b\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"601\" height=\"317\" src=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture10.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5026\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture10.png 601w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture10-300x158.png 300w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture10-585x309.png 585w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/>\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-cb949a1 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cb949a1\" 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-5ee4397\" data-id=\"5ee4397\" 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-b53a1f8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b53a1f8\" 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>Melinda told the Property Council&#8217;s NSW Annual Retirement Living Forum last week the residents next adventure was vertical flying.<\/p><p>\u201cThis was a two-lesson package. Residents will take part in their second indoor skydiving lesson in January. This one will be vertical flying \u2013 the first lesson they flew horizontal,\u201d she said.<\/p><p>Daniel Gannon, Retirement Living Council Executive Director, who was invited to take part, said, \u201cIt was an incredible reminder that purpose, passion and adventure do not come with an expiry date. It wasn\u2019t just about the thrill of flying, it was about connection, courage and proving once again that life in a retirement village is about living with intention, not limitation.\u201d<\/p><p>\u201cThese residents didn\u2019t move into a retirement village to see out there days \u2013 they moved in to live them out. They continue to inspire all of us to embrace every moment with energy, joy and purpose.\u201d \u00a0<\/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-5394778 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5394778\" 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-297d1cb\" data-id=\"297d1cb\" 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-ae1bf3c elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ae1bf3c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"601\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture9.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-5025\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture9.png 601w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture9-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Picture9-585x390.png 585w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 601px) 100vw, 601px\" \/>\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-ea150b0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea150b0\" 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-59b7826\" data-id=\"59b7826\" 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-302cc9e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"302cc9e\" 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>After the two lessons are concluded, the residents are seeking more adventures.<\/p><p>\u201cThey are exploring whitewater rafting and go-karting in the new year,\u201d Mel added.<\/p><p>Aveo paid for the lessons though its resident engagement and happiness programs.<\/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-89e0bae elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"89e0bae\" 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-380668d\" data-id=\"380668d\" 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-046b690 elementor-button-success elementor-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"046b690\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-lg\" href=\"https:\/\/thedcmgroup.createsend1.com\/t\/y-e-quyudud-l-yd\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Return to Newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\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>After being inspired by Marcus Pearce at the National Retirement Living summit in June, Mel Akehurst, Community Manager at Aveo\u2019s Bayview Gardens retirement village, challenged residents to live their best life. \u201cAt first the residents suggested jumping out of a plane but I wasn\u2019t keen,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5022,"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-5021","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\/5021","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=5021"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5021\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5032,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5021\/revisions\/5032"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5022"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5021"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5021"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.villages.com.au/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5021"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}