The intergenerational program between Moran Kellyville and Discover My World Early Learning Centre is a hit with many residents of the Aged Care Home and children of the Centre alike. It brings together the youngest and oldest generations in shared experiences like gardening, cooking, art and craft, storytime and singing.
After experiencing the program, some Moran residents are keen to be more regular volunteers at the Centre, to read and paint with the children. None more so than Malcolm, who loves interacting with the children and enjoys the program immensely. As a father to 4 children, grandfather to 12 grandchildren and great-grandfather to 6 great-grandchildren, Malcolm has all the qualifications for the job!
“I thoroughly enjoy the experience of interacting with the children. It makes me feel like I’m doing something meaningful with my time and takes me back to my teaching days” Malcolm said.
Malcolm was very touched when one of the toddlers came to him when he was leaving recently after some storytelling. The youngster gestured that he wanted Malcolm to pick him up, something that had never happened to him before.
As an industrial chemist by profession, Malcolm worked for ICI and Dulux Companies. He and his wife Jeanette relocated their young family to Papua New Guinea to live for some time. Coming from a generation of teachers, Malcolm later worked as a Head Teacher at TAFE until retiring at age 72. Jeanette was a music teacher and he helped her with music concerts and events. She was the president of the Hawkesbury Eisteddfod and Malcolm assisted with technical aspects of the event. After retiring, he supported Jeanette at Sunday School and the Church Kid’s Club, skills he is now finding very handy.
Said General Manager Moran Kellyville, Nelly Banag “The joy and fulfillment our residents get out of the intergenerational program is second to none and it seems it is a very interesting and happy experience for the children too.”
Moran Kellyville Community Engagement & Wellness Manager, Kiana Gohar, regularly brings her son to visit the residents. “My son Luca has a great time interacting with many residents, having lunch and enjoying real life experiences! It gives me so much happiness to see him enjoying himself with the residents who are so much a part of my life. He receives lots of love from them.”
Moran Kellyville is located adjacent to Discover My World on Goodison Street. The teams at Moran Kellyville and Discover My World work together to create a combined intergenerational program to enrich the lives of the seniors and introduce them to the youngsters. To find out more about how you can join the friendly community at Moran Kellyville, contact us.
