The retirement village that found its rhythm

After putting a call-out in the village newsletter, the ukelele group membership has grown to 13 players. Some arrived with years of experience. Others arrived with enthusiasm and very little idea where to put their fingers. Either way, everyone has found a place.

Resident Jim Gibson joined the group two years ago after moving into the Queenstown retirement community. "I'd played the ukulele as a child, so when I heard there was a group here, I bought a cheap ukulele and got involved," he says.

These days, Jim acts as the group's unofficial conductor, starting songs, keeping time and helping steer the musicians through their growing collection of favourites. "I had played the guitar for a bit and a ukulele has four strings instead of six, so much easier for anyone to learn."

Gill Wikstrom says playing has brought back fond memories of being 12 years old and sitting on his father's boat on Lake Wakatipu, playing A White Sport Coat. "All those many years later, we're still playing that song," Gill adds.

The beauty of the ukulele, Jim says, is that anyone can try it. "They're not expensive to buy and they're easy to learn. We have three songbooks now, so we have a good range of music and we also have a good laugh."

The group hasn't yet taken its show on the road, but they do have an ambitious goal: performing for residents in the adjacent Care Centre at Christmas.