Just under two hours from Melbourne in the scenic Cape Paterson, The Cape sustainable community is where Kate shares her experience as a parent and grandparent. She seamlessly integrates her passion for a sustainable and healthy lifestyle into her family life.

Kate and her partner Phil have called The Cape home for about two and a half years. They moved from a community near Seymour called Commonground Cooperative, and their transition to The Cape was a natural progression, attracted by the Cape’s emphasis on sustainable practices and community-oriented living. The Cape offers a tranquil setting with expansive open spaces, fresh coastal air, and frequent wildlife encounters, such as seeing kangaroos on daily walks.

Kate’s home becomes a lively hub, especially during school holidays when her children and grandchildren visit. “It’s pretty busy here with grandkids, which is great,” she says with a smile. Kate and Phil have thoughtfully designed their home to accommodate the family—and more. “The way we’ve designed the house,” Kate shares, “is so we can have a large gathering of our extended family here.” Their home features large open living areas as well as bedrooms with bunk beds to allow for larger family groups, while the garden and lush lawn provide perfect spots for laying out swags under the stars. This welcoming setup ensures that family gatherings are not just possible, but comfortable and enjoyable for everyone “It is so lovely to have everyone here,” Kate enthuses.

The Cape offers a safe environment where the children relish activities like cycling on dedicated paths and exploring the expansive wetlands, parks or nearby beach. “This is a real plus for The Cape, that the kids can go off cycling and it is relatively flat,” she notes. This independence is crucial for young explorers but occurs within the safe confines of the community.

While visiting, the grandkids participate in activities such as cycling trips, beach outings, and time at The Cape sports precinct where they enjoy playing pickleball, basketball and bowls together. “We say to the kids, ‘okay, we’re going to the beach,’ and it’s on the bikes,” she explains, highlighting the ease of access to outdoor adventures including safe swimming beaches and patrolled surf beaches that are a quick ride away along The Cape’s beautiful granitic sand path network. During the summer, the grandchildren participate in Nippers at the Cape Paterson Surf Life Saving Club, gaining vital life skills and learning about water safety. Additionally, they enjoy exploring and going on adventures in the local area, including the caves, the ancient dinosaur footprint, and the scenic rock pool.