“I can come and go as I want, knowing the house is secure. I don’t need to worry about mowing the lawns or pool maintenance,” she says.
She’s eagerly anticipating the resort’s soon-to-open country club which will host extensive fitness and wellness facilities, including a magnesium-enriched outdoor pool and a sauna for essential post-training recovery, and a fully equipped gym just steps from her home.
GemLife Rainbow Beach is fully equipped with state-of-the-art wellness and fitness facilities.
The new facilities also include a first for GemLife, says Rainbow Beach sales manager Craig Dixon. “The entire top floor of the country club is an indoor lawn bowls green with glass walls for all-weather bowling.”
For those who savour the great outdoors, the location is perfect, he adds. “We’re right by a wildlife corridor and plenty of national parks, and Lake Cathie is Australia’s most temperate place. The average temperature sits between about 19 and 26 degrees — just right whether you’re active or relaxing.”
Waves of success
Since Cummings took up dragon boating at 53, when she was living in Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, she’s enjoyed an exhilarating rise to elite level, falling in love with outrigger canoeing along the way.
“I spotted an advert for a dragon boating ‘come and try’ day, went along and really enjoyed it,” she says.
Cummings has quickly risen to elite levels in water sports, competing in both national and international competitions.
She was immediately hooked on the camaraderie and challenge of paddling in a large team.
“Dragon boating is one of the ultimate team sports,” she says. “Imagine 20 people trying to get the timing right out on the water. It’s a real feat.”
As she built her paddling prowess, opportunities arose to compete. After she moved to NSW, she paddled with a Nowra club, competing at regional then state and national level.
In dragon boat racing, she’s represented Australia twice, in the 2017 and 2019 world championships, bringing back a haul of silver and bronze medals. She’s also represented NSW ten times and the sport has taken her to regattas in China, Thailand and all over Australia.
“I’m also in the Golden Master Women’s outrigging crew, and we’ve twice won the long course (18 kilometres) in the NSW state titles in the two years we’ve been together,” she adds. “In the nationals, we’ve also been in the medals in both the short course (10 kilometres) and the long course.”
Fit for life
Cummings’ success proves age is no barrier to elite athletics. “I was picked for the national team in my early sixties,” she says. “When I put the Australian shirt on, I felt quite overwhelmed. I’ve always been into sport, but who would think at my age I’d be representing my country?”
She adds: “I see age as just a number. It’s more about attitude. I know many people my age and older who are fit as anything.”
She aims to keep on paddling for years to come, while enjoying all the creature comforts of GemLife Rainbow Beach when she’s on dry land.
“It really is beautiful here,” she says. “From the design of my home, with luxuries like a walk-in pantry and walk-in linen cupboard, to the enjoyable social aspect of life at the resort, the lovely surroundings for my walks with Buddy, and the convenience of being near to Port Macquarie. It couldn’t be more wonderful.”
Homes are now selling at GemLife Rainbow Beach on the NSW Mid North Coast, as well as Queensland and in regional Victoria. For details, call 1800 490 705 or visit www.gemlife.com.au.
