ADVERTISEMENT Community is key for Jagdish and Valerie You would be hard pushed to find more commanity-minded people than Blockhouse Bay's Jagdish and Valerie The couple has spent most of their lives devoting themselves to community causes, with Jagdish even being awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)-for services to the community They are so attached to the area they are now moving into Ryman Healthcare's Murray Halberg Retirement Village, just down the road from their home of 45 years. "We decided it was the ideal place for our health and wellbeing" says Jagdish. "It is perfect. Jagdish admits be initially took some persuading that retirement living was the right thing for them, even though he knew they needed to downsize to a smaller home Then when Valerie had Jagdish and Valerie can't wait to make Murray Halberg thoir home It wasn't just the connections they made through work that strengthened the ties to Blockhouse Bay "When we first moved bere, we started making friends through the children's schools, and when they went to Lynfield College Iplayed a big part in fundraising and then got asked to be on the board of Valerie's wonderful hospitality and delicious cooking when visiting their bome. The Government saw my potential for providing a service because l could speak several languages and appointed me a Justice of the Peace in 1975 to sign and witness documents for the Indian community and community at large. "Iworked as a translator and interpreter for Internal Affairs, New Zealand Courts, New Zealand Police and the Immigration Department in Auckland "Even now people come to me to witness documents, there will be two or three time and I did all the Indian weddings in Auckland but I would also go to New Plymouth or Wellington and would do European, Chinese, Polynesian weddings, you name it. It was that devotion to community that saw Jagdish presented with the MNZM by the Govemor General Sir Michael Hardie Boys in 2001 Now the couple are looking forward to making new friends and getting inwolved in the growing Murray Halberg community "We will be able to make friends there. Valerie loves "Having the extra security a hip replacement Jagdish realised the stairs posed a big problem: This was erunch time, he says "My daughter Anjala eame up with the idea after seeing the Ryman village in the newspaper but I said no because I was thinking it was just a resthome, he says "But we met with the sales advisor and a lot of the questions I asked, she explained and that's when we started to think about it more positively. They visited Ryman's Logan Campbell village in Greenlane to get a better idea and when Jagdish save the number of amenities included on site he was convinced it would be the right move. "Everything is in bouse, the pool and gm, library, movie theatre, the hairdresser. That is very important at our age because who knows how much longer Iwill be able to drive. peace of mind too. At night she always has to check the doors to make sure they're locked so health and security are paramount. While the coaple aren't due to move in until next year, they have been to see the apartment block that is now open During their visit they bumped into a couple who used to own the shop next door to the- Domain dairy basiness they ran in Blockhouse Bay during the Sos. They then discovered another friend had also moved in, this time a former colleague from Jagdish's 30-year career at the NZ Post Office "We made lots and lots of friends in the community. So that's one of the main reasons we wanted to stick around this area" says Jagdish. governors for the school." He also found time to be an active supporter of the Indian community, becoming president of the Auckland Indian Association and seeretary of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, and playing a pivotal part in the building of New Zealand's first Hindu temple in Sandringham. With his ability to speak English, Gujarati and Hindi, Jagdish became a vital point of contact for new Indian immigrants, many of whom were treated to a taste of meeting and talking to people so I feel it will be good for her," says Jagdish, with a loving glance at his wife of 58 years. "I can't wait to get there because we're ready to move now!" people every day! Jagdish also extended his repertoire and became a marriage celebrant in 196, conducting upwards of Boo marriages over 42 years with his last one being for his granddaughter last year "I was the only Indian marriage celebrant at that Brand new independent apartments Art mprsion One, two and three-bedroom options available. Priced from $630,000. R To find out more phone Murray Halberg Tarynor Frances on 627 2727 wAN ADVERTISEMENT Community is key for Jagdish and Valerie You would be hard pushed to find more commanity-minded people than Blockhouse Bay's Jagdish and Valerie The couple has spent most of their lives devoting themselves to community causes, with Jagdish even being awarded a New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM)-for services to the community They are so attached to the area they are now moving into Ryman Healthcare's Murray Halberg Retirement Village, just down the road from their home of 45 years. "We decided it was the ideal place for our health and wellbeing" says Jagdish. "It is perfect. Jagdish admits be initially took some persuading that retirement living was the right thing for them, even though he knew they needed to downsize to a smaller home Then when Valerie had Jagdish and Valerie can't wait to make Murray Halberg thoir home It wasn't just the connections they made through work that strengthened the ties to Blockhouse Bay "When we first moved bere, we started making friends through the children's schools, and when they went to Lynfield College Iplayed a big part in fundraising and then got asked to be on the board of Valerie's wonderful hospitality and delicious cooking when visiting their bome. The Government saw my potential for providing a service because l could speak several languages and appointed me a Justice of the Peace in 1975 to sign and witness documents for the Indian community and community at large. "Iworked as a translator and interpreter for Internal Affairs, New Zealand Courts, New Zealand Police and the Immigration Department in Auckland "Even now people come to me to witness documents, there will be two or three time and I did all the Indian weddings in Auckland but I would also go to New Plymouth or Wellington and would do European, Chinese, Polynesian weddings, you name it. It was that devotion to community that saw Jagdish presented with the MNZM by the Govemor General Sir Michael Hardie Boys in 2001 Now the couple are looking forward to making new friends and getting inwolved in the growing Murray Halberg community "We will be able to make friends there. Valerie loves "Having the extra security a hip replacement Jagdish realised the stairs posed a big problem: This was erunch time, he says "My daughter Anjala eame up with the idea after seeing the Ryman village in the newspaper but I said no because I was thinking it was just a resthome, he says "But we met with the sales advisor and a lot of the questions I asked, she explained and that's when we started to think about it more positively. They visited Ryman's Logan Campbell village in Greenlane to get a better idea and when Jagdish save the number of amenities included on site he was convinced it would be the right move. "Everything is in bouse, the pool and gm, library, movie theatre, the hairdresser. That is very important at our age because who knows how much longer Iwill be able to drive. peace of mind too. At night she always has to check the doors to make sure they're locked so health and security are paramount. While the coaple aren't due to move in until next year, they have been to see the apartment block that is now open During their visit they bumped into a couple who used to own the shop next door to the- Domain dairy basiness they ran in Blockhouse Bay during the Sos. They then discovered another friend had also moved in, this time a former colleague from Jagdish's 30-year career at the NZ Post Office "We made lots and lots of friends in the community. So that's one of the main reasons we wanted to stick around this area" says Jagdish. governors for the school." He also found time to be an active supporter of the Indian community, becoming president of the Auckland Indian Association and seeretary of the New Zealand Indian Central Association, and playing a pivotal part in the building of New Zealand's first Hindu temple in Sandringham. With his ability to speak English, Gujarati and Hindi, Jagdish became a vital point of contact for new Indian immigrants, many of whom were treated to a taste of meeting and talking to people so I feel it will be good for her," says Jagdish, with a loving glance at his wife of 58 years. "I can't wait to get there because we're ready to move now!" people every day! Jagdish also extended his repertoire and became a marriage celebrant in 196, conducting upwards of Boo marriages over 42 years with his last one being for his granddaughter last year "I was the only Indian marriage celebrant at that Brand new independent apartments Art mprsion One, two and three-bedroom options available. Priced from $630,000. R To find out more phone Murray Halberg Tarynor Frances on 627 2727 wAN