From the Cattle Pens of Mackay to a new home in Jimboomba
When Isabel and Neville left their one‑bedroom farm cottage on a cattle station outside Mackay last October, they were leaving behind a decade of long hours of hard work in rural Queensland, where they could go for days without seeing another person.
It was a medical crisis that had changed the course of their lives and triggered the move to Jimboomba, about 45 minutes from Brisbane, in late 2025.
Several months earlier, Neville collapsed on the job, while feeding the herd – an incident that could have been fatal.
“I collapsed in the pens with the cows,” Neville said.
The prognosis wasn’t good with Neville’s neurosurgeon informing the couple that Neville’s blood pressure issues and stroke-like symptoms had triggered a form of dementia.
Neville was initially told he could recover to a point, but further decline was likely and that it wouldn’t be possible to continue the physically demanding cattle farm work.
Isabel said she tried her best to keep the station running, while caring for Neville until the repairing fences, tending to calves and managing the demands of 66 acres became overwhelming.
“It was getting too much,” she said.
“I couldn’t keep an eye on him and do all the work as well.”
Isabel said their daughter Lana stepped in and was the first to insist on the 1,000km move down south to be closer to her and family in Jimboomba.
“Every family’s got one that takes the reins,” Isabel said. “That’s Lana.”
Lana’s rental property search wasn’t easy with the couple - both in their 70s and becoming pensioners – unsuccessfully competing with higher‑income applicants.
Isabel said the couple were starting to think that they would have to live in a caravan, when Lana connected with Rachel from Horizon Housing Realty - Community Housing Limited’s subsidiary and affordable housing property managers.
“We owe Rachel a hell of a lot…she really cared and she told our daughter about community housing and those two worked it out,” she said.
“Once Lana latched onto Rachel, that was it, we weren't letting go, because she was the first to listen and take a human side to it, as opposed to throwing your application out.”
The affordable home Rachel had for the couple to rent was a brand-new, two‑bedroom home – one of 206 affordable homes being built by 2027 in the Logan area as part of the Housing Australia Future Fund (HAFF) program and delivered by Tetris Capital, KDL Properties and Ryse Construction.
The homes are offered at discounted rents to support eligible families, key workers and people in need of secure, affordable housing. Community Housing Limited’s subsidiary, Horizon Housing Realty, manage the tenancies and properties long‑term.
Situated in a quiet new estate in Jimboomba, the couple’s new home is worlds away from the cattle station.
“It feels so luxurious...you can’t fault it, it’s just wonderful,” Isabel said.
“We thought, coming from 66 acres, it would be noisy - but it’s not, it’s lovely and quiet.”
The second bedroom has become Neville’s rehabilitation room, with an exercise bike, a rowing machine, and an arcade‑style games station - recommended by his surgeon for his cognitive rehabilitation.
Neville is now making a strong recovery.
“You’ve got to do the work and he does,” Isabel said.
Five months after settling in, Isabel and Neville said the best part has been living just seven minutes from Lana and their two grandchildren and reconnecting with old friends in the area.
They now also enjoy their time walking around the neighbourhood with their mini foxie, Minnie, and appreciate the ease of a quick trip to the shops.
“It’s absolutely wonderful,” Isabel said.
“After years of an hour‑long drive to buy groceries, having shops down the road feels too easy.
“That farm part of our life had ran its course, now it’s time to look after ourselves…it’s just right for us.”