On the cusp of attending their colour appointment with their builder, Chris Steele and Jody Geosits’ latest venture is special on a number of levels.

Their home, in Sovereign Hills Stirling Green precinct, will not only be their first build together, but their first step into home ownership and with a bit of luck their last move for some time.

“Our plans are currently with council and we can’t wait to get started in the near future,” the couple shared. “Building appealed to us because we were able to choose something that suited our lifestyle. We know we are moving into something that we created all the way down to the colour of the driveway. It’s our home!”

The couple moved to Port Macquarie from Gloucester in November 2016 after Chris was discharged from the army. They have been renting a home in Sovereign Hills’ College Rise precinct, getting a feel for the area, the people and, perhaps most importantly, the community spirit.

“We really enjoy the friendly neighbourhood atmosphere. We were looking at buying a pre-existing property, however the value for money in building our own home at Sovereign Hills was very appealing. The location is perfect for us; it’s close to town, beaches and supermarkets, and we are very excited about watching it develop into the future.”

After 13 years of service in the army, Chris, along with Jody, chose Port Macquarie to re-skill and start the next chapter of their lives.

Jody recently completed her Diploma of Mental Health and is currently the mid north coast volunteer for Soldier On which aims to improve the wellbeing of veterans and their families.

“Jody’s passion for helping the veteran community stems from her personal life experiences and desire to understand the needs our returned servicemen and their families encounter,” explained Chris.

Jody currently runs a Veterans coffee catch up every Wednesday at Stirling Green Café (corner of Sovereign Drive and Gillman Way) from 9:30 – 11:30am.

“Jody also organises events for Veterans and first responders and their families in the local area to help provide them with the opportunity to socialise with like-minded people and the community,” added Chris.

The couple is looking forward to putting down roots more permanently and chose Coral Homes’ Grange design, which features in the Sovereign Hills Display Village.

“We are really excited to watch the build progress through the stages and see our own personal touches get added to truly make it ours.”

Soldier On – spreading the word

Soldier On’s mission is to work side by side with those who serve and protect Australia, and their families, HELPing them to secure their future.

Services aim to HELP individuals build resilience and create, and expand, meaningful connections with family, community and employers through:

Health and wellbeing: Psychology, social activities and programs, sporting activities and programs and service initiatives.

Employment: Transition services, employment support, career development assistance.

Learning: Education and training programs, vocational training.

Participation: Social activities and programs focused on connections with family, friends and the broader community, volunteering and sports programs.

For more information about the Veterans coffee catch ups contact jody.geosits@soldieron.org.au