Identity and Mission

I received an email from a Year 8 student a little while back with an idea. She had just been to visit a nursing home as part of the STRIVE program, and wanted to know if there was any other way that we could organise other visits, as she had enjoyed herself so much and saw real benefit for herself and the people she chatted with. A couple of phone calls later and we were able to arrange to go to the Queensbrough Rise community for three lunchtimes this term. I put an email out to our Year 8 students asking for volunteers, thinking I might be scratching to get five or six to go over. In the end, thirteen have made the list and I have had to knock back another ten (don’t worry girls, you’ll get your chance…).

On the first visit, it’s fair to say the girls settled in pretty quickly, and there was no shortage of residents willing to come along and have a chat. After dragging them away so they could get back to school in time for afternoon classes, the girls reflected on the experience on the short return walk. There were no negatives, just a warm and, at times, funny series of interactions that left them keen to return in two weeks’ time.

Around half of residents in nursing homes around Australia suffer from depression, with loneliness being one of the risk factors. We are all possibly aware that these people are isolated within our communities, yet we don’t really know what we can do about it. The Year 8’s knew what to do; plant a seed and watch what grows. It had me thinking that this was a very Mary Aikenhead thing to do, in that if you see a need, do something about it. Well done to the girls who put their hands up to spend some lunchtimes bringing a bit of comfort to those in need.

Mr Anthony Chapman

Director of Identity and Mission