Community Connection at Keyton Sunrise Beach
John Caruso meets the dedicated leaders shaping a community where connection, care, and coastal calm unite.
Keyton’s Sunrise Beach Village is taking shape to offer a rare blend of tranquillity and connection, with Girraween Nature Reserve on its doorstep, Sunrise Beach just a short stroll away, and the promise of a community where everyone knows your name. The final touches are being made, but the essence of the place is already being established by the people who will welcome the first residents.
Two of those people are Keyton Community Connect Manager Maurizio Scoglio and Village Manager Carrie Woods. Together, they bring decades of experience in creating neighbourhoods where life runs smoothly and friendships grow naturally. Maurizio has been part of the Keyton team – the name behind Sunrise Beach Village – for several years, following a two decade career in property and marketing across Queensland. His role is about building bridges between potential residents and the idea of community living, between neighbours, and between the village and the wider Sunshine Coast.
“When people move into senior living, it’s rarely an overnight decision,” Maurizio says. “It’s a process. My role is to introduce them to the concept, ease that transition, and make sure it’s something they feel is a confident choice.”
That might mean organising a morning tea for a local retiree group curious about the new development or inviting community clubs in for a tour. It’s as much about encouraging residents to meet locals as it is about connecting Sunrise Beach Village to the wider community.
When Maurizio talks about what makes this village different, he keeps returning to a simple phrase: “a street like they remember.”
“It’s the comfort in knowing your neighbours, stopping for a chat on the way to the gym, celebrating milestones together,” he said. “That sense of care and familiarity people used to have, that’s what we’re creating here.”
It’s a vision that appeals to those looking for more than a home. For some, it’s the relief of letting go of mowing lawns or maintaining a large property. For others, it’s the freedom to lock the door and head off on a long holiday without a second thought. Carrie shares that view. With years of experience managing Brisbane retirement villages, she sees her role as more than just maintaining onsite facilities.
“It’s about creating a sense of belonging,” she says. “Residents should be proud to call this place home and know they’re part of a community that’s vibrant, safe and inclusive.”
She speaks of the ‘emotional comfort’ from having staff who genuinely care and neighbours who look out for one another – something she’s witnessed first-hand through her father-in-law’s experience in a similar community.
“He’s out all the time, dancing, meeting friends, taking part in activities,” she said. “He has support around him, which is so reassuring for the whole family.”
For Carrie, reassurance is more than a safety net. It separates simply living somewhere from truly living in community. It’s about shared celebrations, warm laughter, and the quiet confidence that someone will notice if you’re not quite yourself.
Sunrise Beach Village will have all the elements that make this possible: a community centre, fitness facilities and inviting spaces designed for gathering. The first residents are due to move in this December.
“Welcoming people to a unique coastal lifestyle, with the national park right there and the beach just down the road, makes it feel like every day is a holiday,” she says. “I’m excited to build a team that helps make moving in as smooth and stress-free as possible.”
Between Maurizio’s talent for connecting people and Carrie’s calm, compassionate leadership, Sunrise Beach Village’s foundations are already solid. They understand that while buildings are important, it’s the friendships, shared moments and everyday kindnesses that make a place truly special. As the first residents settle in, those connections will grow over a cuppa in the community centre, a walk along the nearby trails or simply a smile and a wave across the street.
And that’s when Sunrise Beach Village will truly live up to its potential.
