Louise joined Retire Australia as a Personal Care Assistant in February last year before becoming Village Manager of The Manor, which forms part of Tarragal Glen Retirement Village, in Erina.
Tarrgal Glen and The Manor are 81km north-northwest of Sydney, this retirement village was created in 1995 to cater for seniors who needed extra household assistance but could still live independently.
“I have a corporate background in management (both people management and business) and prior to The Manor, I was the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and Co-Founder of the designer furniture and homeware business House of Europe.
“I have stayed on the Central Coast, to continue my coaching and mentoring of the youth in detention but also to be around for my granddaughter who is now 11 months old.”
Louise Vangestel and Vanessa Fordyce, Village Manager of Retire Australia’s Wood Glen Retirement Village, also in Erina, founded Tarragal Outrigger Canoe Club, based at The Haven, Terrigal.
The Tarragal Ourtrigger Canoe Club focuses on supporting not just the community but local Indigenous youth in partnership with the Frank Baxter Youth Justice Centre and Bara Barang Corporation.
Louise is Club President, and it was her club work which enabled her to being named 2024 Terrigal Woman of the Year.
“I am honoured that my small part of helping youth in detention and hopefully helping them make better decisions in life was acknowledged. I am very grateful but whilst I have won this, there is a whole club of people helping me do this program, so the award is as much for them as it is for me,” she said.
Louise, as steerer, and Vanessa, seat 2, won the 12km State Titles two weeks ago. The youths that the club mentors also won the Novice 6km race at the same event.