Bob & Sandra's Story
Bob and Sandy met in their forties at Kembla Grange Race Track. Bob was punting and Sandy was pouring beers. Both recognised in the other a kindness, strength, and love of life, and a deep and lasting friendship was born.
Bob was a Sydney boy who went on to become a builder, a business owner, and a Clerk of Works in the building industry. He had three children in a twenty-seven-year marriage.
Sandy was born in Crookwell and raised in Laggan on a sheep and cattle grazing property. She moved to Sydney and was a costing clerk for a builder, then after marrying, worked on the Mungindi Telephone Exchange, a controversial role for a married woman. Sandy had two children and moved to the Illawarra, divorcing after 18 years. Sandy finished her career after 21 years at the University of Wollongong.
Now in their seventies and eighties, Sandy is Bob’s carer. Both have wicked senses of humour and maintain that zest for life that belies their years.
After years of renting and doing up other people’s homes. Bob and Sandy saw the way the rents were heading. “While we were working it was ok, the steady increase of rents, but we knew we were looking at retirement. What would we do when on a fixed income? What quality of life would we have in our twilight years?”
Bob saw the advertisement for Central Gardens Affordable villas in the Advertiser and they applied successfully. Sandy said, “This is the best decision we ever made moving into this complex at Shellharbour, and that’s for real. If we were paying market rent, where would we be now? Living in poverty after a lifetime of working? Everyone should have a place they can be proud to call home”.
