The fascinating stories of Brisbane seniors have been shared – and new friendships formed – as through an intergenerational literary project.
Eight students from Kelvin Grove State College visited the nearby Carinity Hilltop aged care home to interview residents and write their stories.
A new book, called Connections, is the result of this exciting collaboration between teenagers and people up to 80 years older than them.
It features the reminiscences of eight seniors – aged between 83 and 100 years – including Audrey Redding, who “Didn’t really think about what she wanted to be when she grew up; she was just happy growing up day by day.”
Other residents imparted wisdom to the young visitors, such as: “Be loyal and follow your dreams”; “Do something you are passionate about”; and “If life knocks you around, you can always get up and fight through it.”
Carinity Hilltop Residential Manager, Ramandeep Gill, said the Connections project continues a long and fruitful relationship between the aged care home and the school.
“Our residents really enjoyed their conversations with the high schoolers, sharing their stories and experiences and engaging with other people from their neighbourhood,” Ramandeep said.
“These intergenerational interactions between residents and young people are an important way to promote mutual learning, improve social connection, and build a greater sense of belonging to a wider community.”
Two Carinity Hilltop residents – Iris Foxover and Jim Spiers – were particularly excited to speak with the students given they attended the same school in their youth.
Supervising teacher, Melanie Ralph, explained that some students were nervous about the excursion as “they don’t have regular opportunities to speak with adults outside of our school or their family”.
“By the time the interviews wrapped up, everyone was chatting and laughing, showing off nail art or posing for photos. It felt like a party,” Melanie said.
“This was an amazing experience for students to learn about body language and communication skills, putting residents at ease, and having fun with them as they shared their stories.
“The project has undoubtedly contributed to the confidence of our students, helping them to become even more compassionate and caring young adults.”
For participating student, Portia, interviewing residents taught her “the importance of connecting with older generations and taking the time to listen to their stories”.
“It was interesting to hear about their families, careers, travels, and life experiences. I learned a lot about what life was like when they were younger and how much the world has changed over time,” Portia said.
“Even though there is a big age difference between us, I was surprised by how many things we had in common and how many similar experiences they had when they were my age.
“It made me realise that older people have so much knowledge and life experience that younger generations can learn from. I learned that everyone has a unique life story – and sometimes the most interesting lessons come from simply having a conversation.”
The high school students returned to Carinity Hilltop in September to deliver copies of the Connections book and sign them for the residents.
