The aged care residents being invited back to school
Every second Monday, a small group of residents from Anglicare's Porter Lodge residential aged care home, which is on the same site as Minto Gardens retirement village, in the suburb, 50km southwest of Sydney's CBD, get ready to go out.
They are waiting for the school bus from Sherwood Hills Christian School in Bradbury, Campbelltown, which takes them to the school 4km away.
They are going to teacher Carolyn Aquilina's Year 9 English class with the 14- and 15-year-old students.
"They've lived through a lot of life ... they've got a lot of history, and most importantly we don't want them to be unread books and just people that are put on shelves and never thought about again. We think about them," Carolyn said.
She has written questions that she prints out for the students and the residents to discuss.
"Where did you grow up?" "What was your first job?" "Do you think life is easier or harder now than when you were younger?"
The conversations blossom and laughter fills the room as the teenagers and their senior companions find common ground.
On milkshake flavours, "Vanilla!" elderly resident John exclaims.
"I like vanilla too, vanilla's the best," the Year Nines agree.
Val, 92, and student Josephine are on the same page about pumpkin.
"I hate pumpkin!" they declare.
Food likes and dislikes aside, the visit from the residents is all about teaching patience, respect and valuing the work of the generations which have gone before.
The students pair up and are allocated an "old friend" to talk to.
At the end of the semester the students will put together a book based on their conversations in the classroom.
"What advice would you give to young people today?" year 9 student Elise asked.
"Be honest ... and be friendly to people," Val responded.
