Brisbane, QLD


Saturday, July 11, 2026

GOODBYE OLIVIA

 Every Friday evening is Happy Hour at the Community Centre in our village. Residents take a plate of nibblies and buy drinks from the bar and spend the evening socialising. Last Friday was a special evening because we were saying goodbye to one of our staff members. Olivia was our accountant and she is also the daughter of Chiou See who built the village but sold it a few years ago. It was an emotional evening for Olivia.  In her speech she mentioned how she had lived in a caravan on the village site when she was a child with her mother and two siblings. So the village was like a second home for her. Now she is ready to move on in her life to new adventures.

Over a hundred residents came to Happy Hour to say goodbye to Olivia.

One of our residents, Adrian, is a poet and he wrote the lyrics to a farewell song sung by the village singers.

Olivia's mother, Chiou See came to the farewell party.

It was an emotional time for Olivia and her mother, Chiou See.

As usual at Happy Hour there is a raffle to raise money for the Workshop. Lucky me won one of the prizes.

16 comments:

  1. Having a Happy Hour every Friday night at the Community Centre is a fantastic idea. Not only do all your friends enjoy the nibblies and drinks from the bar, but spending the evening socialising takes away any loneliness and increases your social life. Although you don't need an excuse for the Happy Hour, it fits in well to mark special occasions - residents' welcomes and farewells, family weddings, babies etc.

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  2. I never realised there are so many residents. The village must be huge. It sounds like Olivia was very well liked.

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  3. Olivia will be missed by the sound of it Diane, and she has lived there and been a part of the village for a long time. You did well to win a prize.

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  4. That's nice ! We are getting together once a month to celebrate birthdays of all who are born in month before. Usually a little show is made, or a singer is coming or dancers and then a beautiful and very good birthday cake !

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  5. Sorry that Olivia is leaving, I wish her all the best in her new adventures.
    Take care, enjoy your day and the new week ahead.

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  6. Oh that must have been a fabulous evening Diane, though a sad one saying goodbye to Olivia. How sweet that the residents sang to Adrian’s poem. Olivia certainly had a very sweet connection to the village.

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  7. I am sure that Olivia appreciated the send-off and all the well wishes and yes to you being lucky and winning a bottle of wine, Diane!

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  8. Never easy to lose special friends!
    Hugs
    Donna💕🌷💕

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  9. It's the end of an era for Chiou See & her family. It was nice that so many turned up for the going away party.

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  10. How nice for the whole community to get together like this, even if it is for a farewell.
    Amalia
    xo

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  11. What a lovely party for that sweet young lady. And you won a bottle of French Merlot! I looked up the vineyard and was rewarded to a visit to France. Thank you! OH, it is so beautiful! It says the castle goes back 1000 years!

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  12. Oh how sweet to have such a big farewell party for Olivia and even sing a special song for her. And how fun you won a price.

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  13. your neighbors have the best of parties and one for most things that happen and every one always looks happy and having fun

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  14. How lovely to have this farewell party.
    Well done on your win.

    All the best Jan

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  15. What a lovely crowd you are, Olivia must have felt very much appreciated.

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  16. A wonderful farewell for Olivia.

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