Life begins at 50

Evolving visions shape our destiny

29 October 2016 | by Halcyon

Article appeared in Sunshine Coast Daily, 29 October 2016.

The Sunshine Coast is changing, moving from a beach culture to a more business-based economy.

It has been taking place for years but has become tangible since construction started on the near-$2 billion Sunshine Coast Public University Hospital at Lake Kawana more than two years ago.

The transformation in the past 12-18 months has seen the region take on a new persona.

The focus continues to be development in harmony with the environment and to encourage blue-sky industries: education, health and wellbeing, technology and niche markets for primary industries in agriculture and horticulture.

The result is ...

Recipe: Banana and rolled oat muffins

28 October 2016 | by Halcyon

Ingredients
2 cups (260g) wholemeal self-raising flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 cup (100g) rolled oats
1/2 cup (100g) brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup (185g) plain low-fat yoghurt
1/4 cup (60ml) canola oil
2 bananas, mashed (250g)

Method
Step 1:

Preheat oven to 200°C. Line a 12 cup muffin pan with paper cases.

Step 2:
Sift flour, cinnamon and soda into a bowl. Empty the flour husks from the sifter back into the bowl along with the oats and brown sugar, and stir to combine.

Step 3:
Whisk eggs, yoghurt and oil together. Add banana and stir ...

Recipe: Salmon Stuffed with Spinach and Feta

28 October 2016 | by Halcyon

This salmon dish is a great way to get in your heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids for the day. The spinach, feta and other seasonings give this nutritious dish extra flavor. Fish is one of the main sources of animal protein in a diet, which is known for its connection with heart health.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 (450 grams) bag frozen spinach, thawed and drained well
2 tablespoons reduced-fat feta cheese, crumbled
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon dried mint
4 salmon fillets (100 grams each), skinned
2 cups fat-free, low-sodium vegetable stock
Juice of 1 ...

What to eat and what not to eat when you’re over 50…

21 October 2016 | by Halcyon

Over the years one thing that is constantly changing is what we eat and how much we can eat… As we age our tolerance levels change and what we were once able to binge on, now become a very infrequent “treat”. There are some foods that really should be kept to a minimum once we are over 50 and here’s a list of them. 

Sugar
Did you know that sugar ages your appearance! Need I elaborate, but I will because I think we all do care about what we look like, essentially what happens is that sugar attaches itself to any ...

Barb is belle of the barbie

20 October 2016 | by Halcyon

Article appeared in the Caboolture Shire Herald, 20 Oct 2016.

Caboolture residents have raised almost $5000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation as part of this year’s nationwide Big Aussie Barbie campaign.

Homeowners from Halcyon Glades cooked up over 100 breakfasts on October 6 to raise money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.

Halcyon Glades resident Barb Rollins made a promise that if she reached $1000 in donations, she would shave her blonde locks.

After growing her hair long for the past two and a half years, Mrs Rollins managed to raise $1384.05 in funds.

The mental and emotional benefits of dancing

14 October 2016 | by Halcyon

We just recently held an event in our magnificent Leisure Club in Hope Island where home owners donned their blue suede shoes, they practiced over and over for what was, an amazing performance by a group of friends within the Vision by Halcyon community.

Dancing is a physical activity so no doubt you’re aware of the physical benefits, but do you know that doing the hot show shuffle is actually good for your brain!

According to a recent article published in Psychology Today. One regular dancing and steady practice can help ‘train’ the brain against dizziness. In addition to that, learning dance ...

Barbecue for a good cause

11 October 2016 | by Halcyon

Article appeared in the Sunshine Coast Daily, 11 October 2016.

Bli Bli’s over-50s have raised more than $1000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation as part of this year’s nationwide Big Aussie Barbie campaign.

Home owners from Halcyon Landing cooked up and consumed more than 150 hamburgers, spreading awareness for the cause and raising much-needed funds for the fight against the disease.

Organiser and home owner John Dickie said the event, hosted at Halcyon Landing’s Recreation Club, involved about 160 people.

“The day involved talks from nominated Prostate Cancer Foundation personnel followed by the barbecue itself and live entertainment,” he said.

Halcyon Landing community manager Donna ...

Authors who were over 50 before they were published

07 October 2016 | by Halcyon

We all love a success story. More often we hear of younger people who seem to become an overnight success. And good on them, because their journey was likely to be anything but overnight!

It’s always warming to hear the Cinderella stories about the writers who struggled for years to write and get published. There’s the well known trials and tribulations of Kathryn Stockett whose best seller, The Help (which was later turned into a great film) was rejected 61 times.

If fairytales are anything to go by the message is that writers should stick to their dreams, perseverance could quite possibly ...

Halcyon Glades rammed earth wall, more than just a pretty facade!

05 October 2016 | by Halcyon

Date: 5 Oct 2016
Sunshine Coast firm Rammed Earth Constructions were responsible for the monolithic rammed earth wall that extends the length of Halcyon Glades magnificent Recreation Club affectionately known as the ‘Long House’, providing a definitive architectural statement that compliments the pitched roof and expressed timber columns.

But the rammed earth wall isn’t just about its dramatic visual appeal. Composed of sandstone-based materials with some oxides included, the wall is non-toxic, non-polluting and ‘breathes’, offering an environmentally friendly construction solution that boasts multiple benefits.

CSIRO research (and centuries of use worldwide) has proved rammed earth is extremely durable ...

Countdown to club life...

01 October 2016 | by Halcyon

Date: Oct 2015
For the lucky home owners at Vision by Halcyon the wait is almost over with the signature Lifestyle and Aquatic Precinct set to open and be fully operational before Christmas. The finishing touches are now being completed on this multi-million dollar facility that houses the fully equipped fitness centre, pool, spa, private cinema and so much more.

The first official function to be held in the Leisure Club will be Melbourne Cup and everyone is eager to get the party started! But it’s not just all fun and games, health and wellbeing are at the top of ...