NSW Uniting residents become published authors in a retirement community

Key points:

• Residents from two retirement villages in New South Wales recently held a book launch for their collection of short memoir stories with themes including friendship and emotion
• Older Australians who engage in creative writing may experience greater levels of self-esteem and a sense of purpose according to Australian researchers
• Although storytelling can help bridge the gap between generations, the Aged Care Guide also contains ideas for the best holiday activities to do with your grandchildren

Residents at two retirement villages have published their first joint memoir, demonstrating that it’s never too late to try something new. 

Thirteen retirees at McRae-McMahon Place and Hawkins Place Uniting Retirement Villages in Leichhardt, New South Wales, meet on the first Thursday of every month to work on creative writing skills and memoir pieces. 

Over the last eight months, the 13 participants wrote a total of 46 stories with themes such as friendship, parenting, emotion and satisfaction to publish in The First Thursday Memoir Writing Group book.

At the age of 87 years, resident Leone Sperling first organised the group because she wanted to meet like-minded people interested in writing and wanted to connect with others. 

Ms Sperling highlighted the impact of the group on the other residents and how writing stories based on personal experiences was therapeutic and cathartic for many participants.

“It was not unusual for the reader of a story to become tearful on reading their story to the group,” she said. 

“I would set a topic each month that would enable the members to look at their past and find a relevant pertinent moment in their life to examine and turn into an exploration of the feelings involved in that memory.

“It is certainly a psychologically beneficial thing to be able to express genuine, honest feelings with one’s fellow writers and community.”

Ms Sperling cut the cake at the recent book launch to celebrate the group’s achievement. [Source: Uniting Retirement Living; supplied]

Western Sydney University researchers found that older people who engage in creative writing activities had ‘improved well-being, self-esteem, identity, agency, sense of capacity and purpose.’

Renee England, Head of Senior Services at Uniting Sydney Central commented on the positive impact of the monthly creative writing group on the residents who participated.

“What Leone and her friends have created with this engaging and emotional book demonstrates just how wonderful it is to see residents come together in a shared common space,” she said.

“We’re proud to have created an environment that provides the opportunity for our residents to build and share community connections at Uniting.”

To find the right retirement village for you, visit the Aged Care Guide. Plenty of resources are also available to help you learn more about life in a retirement village and common myths about retirement villages.

Authors of the recently published memoir collection include: Leone Sperling, Thelma Abrahams, Brigid Sen, Michael Barker, Philip Ansoul, Geoff Amblin, Carole Bye, Julie Bailey, Ginna Hastings, Cathy Milgate, Rowena Simone, Maggie Wall and Richard Whitfield.

Older Australians read more often than younger generations according to Creative Australia, however, only 14 percent of Australians participate in creative writing.

Many people attended the recent book launch in support of the residents who contributed to the stories. [Source: Uniting Retirement Living; supplied]

This is the group’s first publication and will be a limited print run initially, but friends and family can email ask@uniting.org to find out more about getting a copy. However, with the success of the first book launch, it’s possible that this memoir collection could have another print run in the future.

Writing your life story is a way to share your past with younger generations, such as grandchildren. However, if storytelling and writing don’t interest you, other activities can also help you form close bonds with younger Australians.

Three in four older people enjoy sharing stories and knowledge with younger people according to Australian researchers in an intergenerational study.

For example, Bob Holder is a 93-year-old cowboy who competed in this year’s Mount Isa Mines Rodeo. 

Bob, from Cootamundra, shared wisdom with some of the younger cowboys, including eight-year-old Asher from Mount Isa. Asher’s father said his son enjoyed spending time with Bob as they discussed their shared love of horses.

As the school holidays are fast approaching, finding time to spend with your grandchildren might become easier if you create shared interests.

The Aged Care Guide has the best holiday activities to do with your grandchildren including:

• visiting a park or playground;
• going out for ice cream;
• playing board games;
• teaching them a new skill; and
• reading together.

What activities do you enjoy most when building friendships with others?

Let the team at Talking Aged Care know on social media. 

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