Get To Know Your Community Manager: Red Gum Community, Coombabah
Nearly 50 years on, Jan Sorrensen has found herself back in the north region of the Gold Coast and is now the Community Manager of the Red Gum Community at Coombabah.
Prior to the recent Covid outbreak, Jan was welcomed by residents as the newly appointed Community Manager in both a morning tea and afternoon tea.
“The morning tea and afternoon tea was a wonderful way to meet some of the residents and I was truly made to feel so welcome,” said Jan.
Some would say it is fate that Jan’s journey has led her back to Red Gum after she grew up in Paradise Point in the early 1960s. “My parents owned the local general store at Paradise Point, it was a quiet seaside town with only the shop, boat shed and a few scattered houses,” said Jan.
A few years later Jan’s parents built a home on the bush track of Pine Ridge Road, Coombabah where they lived for many years. “I still have memories of walking the bush tracks down Hansford Road with my Dad, right through the swamp where Red Gum Community is now!” reminisced Jan.
“A memory I recall, are the terrible floods where my Dad waded through the waters with me on his shoulders. Nearly 50 years on, I am now working back at Red Gum and love to reminisce with some of the residents who also lived and worked in this area for many years,” said Jan.
Every morning when Jan drives around the community in the buggy she finds it to be reminiscent of those childhood memories. Jan’s parents have both passed however she is sure that they would both be very interested and happy to know how she has returned to her childhood haunt at Red Gum.
“I am so happy to be the Community Manager at Red Gum and to help make the community feel friendly and welcoming to our residents. We have many great projects underway, and I look forward to many years of doing my best to keep the community safe, happy and friendly for all,” concluded Jan.
