“They’re all good people here. We just feel secure.”—Fred Seeber, Victoria Grange Retirement Community resident
Key points
- Fred and Barbara Seeber moved to Victoria Grange in 2024 after 58 years in their family home.
- The couple say the friendship, security and facilities at Victoria Grange have given them genuine peace of mind.
- Their story reflects the importance of community connectedness, strong relationships and a sense of safety to our wellbeing. Feeling connected to a community supports mental, physical and cognitive health, while also making our neighbourhoods safer, stronger and more resilient.
Married in 1968 and together for 58 years, Barbara and Fred Seeber built their family home themselves, two kilometres from where they now live. They raised two children there, welcomed six grandchildren into the family and stayed for decades. So, when the couple decided to downsize, they weren’t looking for just any village—they wanted somewhere that felt right.
A quick decision
After looking at a few options that didn’t feel like a genuine improvement, the Seebers found a unit advertised at Victoria Grange Retirement Community on a Friday night. By the following week, they’d inspected it, bought it and sold their family home—all without a hint of pressure.
“As far as help from Victoria Grange, can’t fault it in our move up here,” says Barbara. “We never felt pressured. We just felt this was a meant-to-be step.”
Part of the appeal was Australian Unity being member-owned, which Barbara says is important to them.
Moving to a retirement village also meant not paying stamp duty which was a big consideration.
Feeling secure
For Barbara and Fred, a sense of safety has been one of the biggest benefits of life at Victoria Grange Retirement Community. “They’re all good people here. We just feel secure,” says Fred, comparing it to their old street, where their community connection was significantly lower.
That security extends to knowing help is close by. When Barbara came home after two weeks in hospital, a neighbour had put up a “Welcome home” sign. “It’s just feeling secure,” Barbara says. “The friendship, and if we need things, they’re here.”
Giving back to the community
Barbara and Fred are quick to help their neighbours and very happy to do so.
“I just like doing anything to help people,” Fred says. “I like to make things easier for people.”
Barbara keeps busy with knitting groups, cards and a regular swim to help her back. “I’m so grateful for the pool,” Barbara says. “Not all villages have one.”
They also drive a neighbour to her hair appointment each week giving them a good feeling whilst doing their shopping at the same time.
Fred also keeps the community’s hobby room running, having taken it over soon after coming to the village.
Each month there are bus trips to shopping centres and other places of interest. Of special interest is the monthly men’s bus trip to places Fred says they’d never get to on their own—from a bus manufacturer, to the MCG, to a children’s hospital research institute.
Community life at Victoria Grange is largely resident-led, from a monthly newsletter to Friday happy hour and Christmas celebrations. “Everything’s run by residents,” says Fred. Even the local chemist gets involved each Christmas, putting together a personalised gift bag for every one of the 110 homes at Victoria Grange.
Peace of mind for the years ahead
With an aged care centre on-site, Barbara and Fred say they feel prepared for whatever the future holds. It’s peace of mind to have that facility here. It is convenient if and when one or both need the next stages of care.
For Barbara, that security is central to her wellbeing. “Wellbeing is if I need help, I’ve got it here,” she says. “It’s peace of mind, I don’t feel miserable, I feel happy, and I just make the most of every moment.”
Fred agrees. “I would say it’s peace,” he says. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
