A community service has been used as an opportunity to enhance shared wisdom and learn from those with much greater lived experience.
The theme for this year’s Seniors Week was on full display at Mathers House, where year nine to 11 students from St Michael’s Collegiate volunteered to mix with elder Tasmanians while providing table service and performances for their annual Long Table Lunch.
Collegiate year 11 student India Green said it was a highly beneficial experience mixing with the participants of the lunch.
“I feel like we have a lot to learn from them because they have wisdom that they could pass down to us,” India said.
“I think it's really special to be able to do this it's quite of privilege because you don't get many opportunities to interact with older members outside of like just your family.
“I think it's really important because they have so much knowledge and life experience that we can learn from and it's really nice to like connect with different generations and different experiences.”
The 12 Collegiate students not only provided full table service for the four-course lunch for the 30 community members, but also showed their singing and music talents through a variety of performances in between courses.
“Because they've like done so much for our community, so it's really nice that we can do something for them, just a little thing to help out their day,” India said.
Hobart Deputy Lord Mayor Zelinda Sherlock said the event was a wonderful example of this year’s Seniors Week Intergenerational Theme.
“Everybody's really excited to be here today,” Dr Sherlock said.
“It's a really wonderful feeling of community – everybody coming together and sharing a meal as well as talking, exchange of laughter and talking about favourite things and different generations, what used to happen in their times as in comparison to the generation now that we have.”
Picture: Year 9 St Michael's Collegiate student Lillian Tso providing table service at Mathers House's Long Table Lunch for Seniors Week.