SOMETIMES a gem can be hidden, even though it is right before our very eyes.
One such gem, which is among the city’s great achievements and success stories, is the Woodlands and Hallmont Retirement Villages, or as builder and owner Vince Versace says, “Lifestyle Villages”.
“It’s not about bricks and mortar, it is about people”.
Today, both facilities attract people from far and wide looking for a comfortable place to keep “enjoying the journey”.
In fact, it is interesting that of the 188 Woodland homes, 36 serviced apartments and 175 independent homes at Hallmont, the ownership is split about 60-40, with 60 being local and the other 40 from outside areas all over Australia.
Vince’s latest project includes 52 new double garage homes in a new development at the rear of Woodlands which is an extension of that village and adjacent to Hallmont.
When completed, it will total 450 homes on 50 acres of land with more than 600 residents enjoying a wonderful lifestyle.
It has also created an economic boost to Mount Gambier with the villages having a construction value of $100m, employing many tradesmen, suppliers and contractors.
The village concept has come a long way since it was first launched in 2000.
It was a tough slog at first and in fact it took eight months before they sold the first 15 and from there the project took off.
While it was a challenge, Mr Versace was used to challenges.
A son of Italian migrants, Vince came to Mount Gambier from Coonawarra in about 1960 and he and his family lived opposite me in Cockburn Street before moving to Queen’s Avenue and then Cardinia Street.
Anyone who was a migrant during the 1950s and 60s will tell you just how difficult it was and the racism experienced was far worse than today.
He started school at St Paul’s in 1961 which was housed near the Convent and slowly he and others like him integrated into the normal Aussie lifestyle and eventually became “accepted”.
Like many migrants, Vince and his parents worked hard.
His parents became involved in the fruit and veg business running several shops in Mount Gambier.
In 1970, at the age of 15, Vince started as an apprentice plumber before moving into running his own business and building his first home in 1976 in Marara Street.
Today, he runs a successful building company employing a team of full time employees and sub-contractors constructing many homes in Mount Gambier.
It was while working on a housing development project in Winfield Court with the late Allan Scott AO in the late 1990s when Vince saw a need for a retirement-type development in Mount Gambier.
There were others interstate and overseas but the difference with Vince’s plan was to have residents move into a community environment by creating affordable living, it would strike a balance between privacy and independence.
At the same time there would be available facilities such as an indoor heated pool, spa, lawn bowls and a billards table to provide a healthy, vibrant community-type spirit which comes from having people with similar lifestyle needs.
According to Vince, lifestyle and affordability are the key elements.
By providing the numerous facilities it is then up to the individual how they wish to spend their time.
As Foodbank’s Mount Gambier ambassador he has also recruited residents to help him in “can drives” and collecting donations to help people in need.
Vince admits the village concept came with its challenges, especially in the early days but with each problem came a solution and today Mount Gambier is recognised as having two of the best retirement or lifestyle villages in the country.
Vince will not tell you this, but it is not a bad success story for an Italian migrant who came to this country to start a new life, not only did he achieve that but provided a new life for many others.
Throw in his career with International Soccer Club and work for Boandik Lodge, where his generosity resulted in a court being named in his honour, you have an amazing feel-good story.
He has done Mount Gambier proud.
