Leonard strolls through life with his four-legged friend at Westhaven

After growing up on and later running the family dairy farm outside of Toowoomba, Bolton Clarke Westhaven Retirement Village resident Leonard says he was ready for the convenience and support of retirement living.

“My mum and dad bought the first part of their dairy farm out between Crows Nest and Haden in 1945 and I always say we were dragged up in the cows,” he says.

Leonard and wife Carmelita joined the Westhaven community almost three years ago when Carmelita became unwell. With Leonard in the village and Carmelita in the co-located residential aged care home, the move has allowed them to stay close to one another.

“My wife wasn’t well and the doctor told us that we were too far away being on the farm, so we decided to move into Westhaven,” Leonard says.

“She is in the residential aged care community here, so it only takes me a few minutes to walk over and spend each morning with her.

“All the services we need are all here – the whole set up is fantastic.

“I now usually go over to the community hall a few times a week to have a game of pool with a few of the other residents.”

The couple took in a Border Collie before moving to Westhaven and the much-loved pet is now Leonard’s four-legged companion, joining him on his daily walks.

“My young brother-in-law originally named our dog Susie after Susie Maroney, who swam across the English Channel.

“A lot of the residents know Susie – I normally walk right around the full community area two or three times a day with her.

“There are some residents who will have a good chat and pop out to see her on our walks, which she enjoys.”