People of Quarry Gardens cooperative retirement commune are deliberately building community and connection. On welcoming them to the Council, he explained how they’d started an outreach scheme that matches them up with younger children from nearby Bocombra Primary School. Class teacher Stacey Nesbitt, who started the program four years ago, has since blossomed into a much-loved tradition, fostering important connections and collaborative projects between longstanding elderly residents and school-age children.
Gwen Rose, a resident who has called Quarry Gardens home for over two decades, plays a pivotal role in organizing activities for her fellow residents. She fostered a strong sense of initiative, stressing how the program nourishes the lives of people residing in sheltered housing. “Sometimes in sheltered housing it’s hard, you know,” she stated, emphasizing the need for social engagement among the elderly.
The primary beneficiaries of the program are Primary Two pupils, aged five and six, who visit their elderly “friends” twice per term. With Quarry Gardens right next door to Bocombra Primary School, access was easy, allowing for continual engagement. During these meet-ups, kids are able to get hands-on, learning through baking, crafting and even getting their hands dirty in the garden. In great spirits, the kids joyously ice biscuits to look like flowers. Their elder counterparts direct them, making magical memories along the way.
As Professor Stacey Nesbitt said of the positive fruits this initiative bears for her students. “It is great for the ladies. It’s great company and gives them something to focus on,” she said. It’s incredible to see how the children open up and how they learn to have deep, meaningful friendships with the residents. Only years later, as these students move through high school and into college, do some of them stop writing regularly to their older friends.
The impact of this inter-generational connection can be seen in the smiles and shared laughter that they freely exchange during their time together. Audrey Wright, a resident who looks forward to the meet-ups, remarked, “They’re little individuals and sometimes they really make you laugh.” The camaraderie is palpable, as she described how children call out to her and cheer for her as they kick a ball back and forth.
For some children, this program is the most stable extension of their home life. Megan, one of the pupils, shared her enthusiasm for baking: “I have loads of practice because me and my mum and dad bake at home.” This culinary immersion greatly enriches their food knowledge. That in turn encourages them to take ownership and find delight in the moments when they see their work presented to the world.
