Star of the Sea a Beacon for Seniors

Keith Banks had an upbringing unlike any other. A lighthouse keeper’s son, he was raised in some of Victoria’s most rugged, beautiful and isolated coastline areas.

Now aged 82, the ocean has called Keith back home as he and his wife of 62 years, Betty, settle at Star of the Sea Village in Torquay.

The boutique retirement village – operated by one of Victoria’s largest not-for-profit providers of senior, disability and education services, Villa Maria Catholic Homes – is proving popular with seniors like Keith and Betty who want to live independently while remaining connected to their community. 

Keith was aged just five when his Dad was first posted to Point Hicks lighthouse in East Gippsland in 1937. Over the next 14 years, Keith recalls a quiet childhood spent studying by correspondence, learning the ropes from his Dad, tending to pet sheep, and of course, gazing out at the ocean.

After Point Hicks, Keith and his parents served on Gabo Island during WWII where some “interesting things” happened.

“It was very controlled in terms of what ship passed and what ship didn’t pass. One day a worker spotted what he thought was four whales on the reef at Cape Powell. Dad said ‘whales don’t beach themselves on rocks’ and reported it. We found out later they were most likely midget submarines laying on the rocks to recharge their batteries. Midget submarines attacked Sydney Harbour just three days after our observation.”

The family’s last posting was at Wilson’s Promontory. They were on duty when the infamous bushfire raged through the national park for three days in 1951. Keith, his parents and other workers were lucky to escape with their lives.

“It was a different kind of life that is hard to describe,” Keith recalls of his upbringing. “It was much the same as growing up on a farm. You never saw anyone much, other than the man who would bring your mail once a fortnight. But I was very close to my parents and enjoyed that part of it.”

Keith’s life quickened in pace when he met Betty. They married in 1953 and had two children. Fast forward six decades and it was their ties to family and the ocean which saw them settle at Star of the Sea.

“My son lives in Torquay and we had a holiday unit here so when it came time to downsize it made sense to make this our home.”

Keith and Betty have embraced the village lifestyle and become connected to the local community. Keith is a member of the Torquay Bowling Club and Betty enjoys happy hour with village residents every Friday night.

“I really love the friendliness and the companionship of living at Star of the Sea,” Betty said. “Like Keith, I love the ocean and I can go swimming here whenever I like. A group of us also go to the pictures on a Tuesday and this month the village has organised a caterer to come in and make us a nice dinner.” 

For Keith, Star of the Sea’s proximity to the ocean (one kilometre) was its selling point. “I’m still very much connected with the sea. It becomes a part of you.” 

And of course, Keith can name the closest lighthouses. “Point Lonsdale and then the ‘White Lady’ at Aireys Inlet, followed by Cape Otway,” he said. 

Star of the Sea Village is located at 1 Headland Drive, Torquay and is open for inspection seven days a week (weekends by appointment). For further information please phone Sales Manager Pip Walker on 5264 3600 or click here.