Family bonds span three generations in one village

Despite the saying ‘Mum knows best’, if Arvida Park Lane resident Pat Wadley needs a hand, she might call her daughter Sharon Rayner, a Wellness Partner working in the same village. And if Sharon needs advice, she often turns to her daughter (Pat’s granddaughter) Aleshia Wansbrough, former Park Lane Village Manager and now General Manager of Wellness and Care.

The closeness doesn’t stop there. Sharon lives just across the road from Aleshia, meaning the three generations are never far from one another.

Pat moved into the village with her husband seven months ago, joining a community already familiar to her. Sharon has worked at Arvida Park Lane for 11 years, while Aleshia spent six years as Village Manager and, despite her role change, remains a regular visitor.

Though their connection runs deeper than proximity. Aleshia describes her Nan as one of her greatest role models. “Nan is incredibly warm, smart, funny, and so deeply caring,” she says. “She has this way of making people feel better just by talking to them — you leave her presence lighter than when you arrived.”

Sharon, who has worked in aged care since she was just 15, says it’s a privilege to support her Mum and Dad at work. “My approach has always been about treating people the way you’d want your own family treated - with kindness, patience, and genuine care,” she says. “That’s something Mum taught me without ever needing to say it.”

As a former pub owner in Twizel, Pat would often help Aleshia welcome visitors during apartment open days, long before becoming a resident herself. “She’s always belonged here in some way,” Aleshia says proudly.

When it came time to choose a village, familiarity wasn’t a deciding factor. “We really did our homework,” Aleshia says. “In the end, it came down to where we knew Nan and Pop would feel the most supported, the most comfortable, and truly at home.”