At Channel Mag, we love seeing people enjoying their retirement lifestyles in the wonderful range of retirement villages we have north of the Harbour Bridge. The residents seem to have so much fun at these villages, taking part in so many pastimes. For this issue, we’ve talked to interesting people from four different villages, Janet, Angela, Nancy and Leigh, who are making the most of their retirement years – they look to be living the dream while still indulging in things that keep them busy and fulfilled.
Janet Newport
The Poynton Retirement Lifestyle Village, Takapuna
Janet Newport was born and bred on the Shore, growing up in Murray’s Bay. She did all her schooling locally, and she says the family spent lots of time at Murrays Bay Beach during their childhood; her Mum would bring lunch and an umbrella. Janet now lives at The Poynton in Takapuna, a Metlifecare Village. Her sister also lives in the same village (with her husband), and they have a brother who lives in northern NSW with his family. Janet says she started playing tennis at a young age at Browns Bay and later at Mairangi Bay with many of the club’s members now living at The Poynton. Janet is a keen knitter and spends lots of time making items for charity.
Channel Mag: What prompted you to begin knitting?
Janet Newport: Mum taught us to knit at a young age as an activity in the school holidays.
What's your proudest knitting moment?
Seeing my daughter as a baby in outfits I had knitted.
What do you enjoy about life at The Poynton?
Location, security and convenience were factors in choosing The Poynton as my home, but it offers so much more. We have a great cafe culture and also dining each week. The residents committee provide excellent entertainment and guest speakers, and there are a multitude of sporting activities and craft groups.
What's the best life advice anyone has ever given you?
Take advantage of any opportunity in front of you if possible.
Angela Antony
Northbridge Residential Village, Northcote
Angela Antony has lived on the Shore for over 60 years (Northcote, Takapuna and Milford). In her early years, she spent time in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and London. Her family is very involved in the arts, with her children working in the entertainment industry, and John, her late husband, was a founder of Tadpole Productions. Angela’s working life was in arts marketing, administration, advertising, research, public relations, design, journalism and promotions. She’s worked with numerous arts organisations and councils. Hobbies and work have always intertwined for Angela – she got involved in musical theatre, where she met John. Angela has also served as a Takapuna Community Board member and as a Justice of the Peace (JP).
Channel Magazine: Where did your passion for theatre come from, and what's your earliest memory of it?
Angela Antony: My wider family were all connected to the arts in some way – film, dance, singing, painting. The arts were a part of my life from as young as I can remember. And it continues, our daughter Rachel is CEO of Greenstone, the TV production company and our son Todd is an international photographer based in London. I am a Life Member of North Shore Music Theatre, The PumpHouse Theatre, The Lake House Arts Centre and Tadpole Theatre Productions. I also have a Civic Award for arts services and a 1997 Queens Service Medal (QSM) for services to the arts and the establishment of the Bruce Mason Centre.
Tell readers about your involvement in Tadpole productions.
My husband John Antony founded Tadpole Productions with Louise Wallace back in 2011, and I did their admin, costumes and helped with marketing, etc. In 2015, after John died, I went onto the Tadpole Board as their administrator and continue in this role today.
What do you enjoy about life at Northbridge?
I never imagined I would live in a retirement village. But circumstances changed, and I moved to Northbridge Village last year when the right apartment became available. It has definitely been the right decision, with my family out of the country so much. Most of my closest friends are here; there is always something happening, and it is so close to everything I am still involved in.
What production have you been involved in that you were particularly proud of, and why?
Having passed my second 40th birthday, there have been too many things I have been involved with to single out just one, but I am proud of initiating the Bruce Mason Centre project and my role as founder director and original board member. Also, as Chairman of Arts Advocates Auckland and as a former Patron of The PumpHouse Theatre.
What is your favourite theatre production or movie of all time and why?
My fondest is the musical 'The King and I'. I met John on stage in the Wellington Operatic festival production in 1961. Then I was dancing in the same show at His Majesty’s Theatre in Auckland in 1967 when we got engaged. In 1972, we did the show for North Shore Operatic, and I was pregnant with our first child, who then became a dancer in the same role I had done when John produced the show in 1993!
Nancy Drake
Lady Allum Retirement Village, Milford
Nancy Drake lives at Lady Allum. She’s a mother of four and a lively creative with a passion for spinning yarns and creating woollen items, which is something she has done for 58 years. Nancy has lived a very interesting life, growing up on a dairy farm on Porana Road on the Shore. After marrying her husband, John, his teaching career took them throughout New Zealand, and it was then that she began spinning and creating with wool. Nancy and John lived in Tirau for a time and created the iconic big sheep landmark, a corrugated iron sheep sculpture. The town is now known as the 'Corrugated Iron Capital of New Zealand'. Along with this, some of Nancy’s spinning work is archived at Te Papa. She tells Channel Mag about her varied life, her three years at Lady Allum and her passion for spinning.
Channel Magazine: How did you first get into spinning?
Nancy Drake: When my husband was working in the Wairarapa, I was taught to spin by the wife of a head teacher of another school. After we had lunch with them one day, she was spinning with the wool from her farm, and she asked if I wanted to have a go. My husband bought me a spinning wheel for my birthday, and I have now been spinning my own yarn for 58 years.
How do you dye the wool, and what sort of products do you make with it?
After it’s been washed and the lanolin is removed, you put it in a pot and dye it. I have a particular brand of dye I like. I won a major prize for an Afghan rug, which I dyed the wool for; it also has some crochet on it. The rug was bought by the Q2 Arts Council, and it’s now at Te Papa archived, which is nice.
What item that you’ve made are you most proud of?
Hard question, but I like making jerseys and spares of socks. I recently made two blankets that I started knitting out of different scraps of mohair, angora, and alpaca - my sister-in-law wants one of these!
Any knitting clubs at Lady Allum, and what do you enjoy about living there?
I love living at Lady Allum. One of the highlights of my week is joining the craft group – it’s a wonderful mix of people who enjoy crochet, knitting, and cross-stitch. We meet weekly, and it’s a great way to connect, create, and share our love of crafts. In many ways, living here feels like I’ve come full circle. I went to Milford Primary as a child, and now, all these years later, I’m back in the same community at Lady Allum. I really enjoy the independence I have here. The staff are supportive and kind, the location is great – and it’s reassuring to know that care is available on-site if I ever need it. It truly feels like home.
Best piece of advice someone has given you?
Follow your dreams.
Leigh Elder
William Sanders Retirement Village, Devonport
Leigh Elder started off as a physical education teacher and has lived a varied life since. He’s been involved in life coaching, rest-home ownership, column writing, and with the Eat For Keeps programme, helping thousands of people with weight and diabetes problems. He now happily lives at the William Sanders Ryman Village in Devonport.
Channel Magazine: You have lived an active life. Why is that important to you?
Leigh Elder: I was really fortunate to be able to play a number of sports, including golf, tennis, table tennis, cricket and basketball at rep or senior club level. I’m kind of still hardwired to keep challenging myself physically and realise the importance of doing this to retain my overall physical abilities into old age.
What inspired you to write your books on ageing?
I’d had two other popular health books published about my Eat For Keeps programme. Having seen so many people achieve life-changing results by making a few permanent changes to their food and lifestyle choices, it seemed like a natural progression to write a book on ageing well.
How long did it take you to write the books, and what was the writing process like for you?
It probably took a year for each of the first two books. “Don’t Act Your Age – Living younger can be age-defying” is the title of this new one, and it’s been a fascinating journey over the past couple of years; quite a privilege to be able to meet and write the life stories of incredible super-agers like legendary athletics coach Arch Jelley, who at 103 still does 100 squats a day and walks a few kilometres. I’m hoping readers will be motivated, inspired and learn ways to lead their best possible lives. It’s being launched at our village on 19 September, and I hope locals will come along and meet some of these super-agers.
You worked as a physical education teacher. What advice would you pass on to younger generations today when it comes to health, fitness and wellbeing?
You have been gifted with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on planet earth and your incredible human body, which performs miracles for you every day. Make sure you do your very best to look after it!
Do you lead or participate in any wellness activities at the village?
I’ve run a couple of physical functionality groups and a three-month wellness challenge so far, and happy to continue with others. My new book has an excellent lifestyle challenge in it, and I’m hoping that lots of people will give this a go.
