Albury dynamic duo take out Manager of the Year crown
The dynamic duo of cousin co-managers from East Albury’s Murray Gardens Retirement Village have taken out the NSW/ACT Programmed Village Manager of the Year award for 2017.
Anne Jack and Chiquita Walsh were recognised in front of hundreds of industry representatives in Sydney on Tuesday 13 September for their outstanding achievements in retirement village management.
Both Albury locals, Anne and Chiquita have been managing the village together since 2012, helping to ensure the village’s 279 residents are living a great retirement lifestyle.
Anne and Chiquita’s achievements include the creation of a Village Concierge, to offer a higher level of personal service to residents and their families, including arranging transport and organising social activities and events.
Through Delta Society, a therapy dog visits the village regularly to provide companionship and comfort, and a strongly scented garden designed specifically for those with vision impairment is also being planned.
Anne and Chiquita also coordinated an exhibition of art from Murray Gardens resident Holger Christen, and many local artists are now able to display their work in the village, turning it into a local social and artistic hub.
“With their attention to detail in every aspect of village life, Chiquita and Anne are a complete package,” said Murray Gardens residents Marg and Ian Harrison.
“They are thoughtful, caring to all residents, diligent in their work ethic and always approachable in their roles of management of this wonderful village.”
“Every time I speak to the residents at Murray Gardens,” says Alison Quinn, Chief Executive Officer of RetireAustralia, which owns and operates Murray Gardens, “I am always pleased to hear about their positive experiences of village life and can often attribute them to the actions and attitudes of our co-village managers.”
“No task is ever too great and they are always willing to go the extra mile to deliver a high level of service and satisfaction.”
Anne and Chiquita now enter the running for the National Programmed Manager of the Year, to be presented at the National Retirement Living Awards on the Gold Coast on Monday 27 November.
The Village Manager of the Year is proudly presented by Programmed Property Services. Programmed is a long-time supporter of the award and its recognition of outstanding retirement village managers and their vital role in creating happy, healthy and harmonious communities. For more information on the Village Manager of the Year, visit www.retirementlivingawards.com.au.