Tree planting marks bringing elderly and young together
DAVID Earle of the Rotary Club of Shepparton South, Rotarians and the co-founders of the I Wish I’d Asked program, Eva Gruen and Danny Finley are celebrating being the recipients of the State Government’s Pick My Project grant. The grant was voted on by the public and a tree planting ceremony was held recently at Banksia Lodge in Kialla with Member for Northern Victoria, Mark Gepp to commemorate this intergenerational project.
CREATING CONNECTIONS ACROSS GENERATIONS… From left, St Luke’s Catholic Primary School student, Liam Earle, 10, planting trees while Shepparton Villages Banksia Lodge residents, Bill, Faye and Bunty watch on as part of the recent I Wish I’d Asked program event.
Eva Gruen said, “Children will be encouraged to talk to their older relatives, neighbours and family friends about their lives and gather the stories into an oral history of Shepparton.
‘WITH THE SUPPORT OF SCHOOLS AND OTHER GROUPS, CHILDREN AND ADULTS WILL VISIT RETIREMENT VILLAGES, PRIVATE HOMES AND STREETS OF SHEPPARTON TO CONDUCT A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES AND COLLECT THE EXTRAORDINARY STORIES OF ORDINARY AUSTRALIANS.’
Recently Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt said, ‘Almost half of all aged care home residents have no family or friends visit them in a whole year. This is alarming and extraordinary.’ Rotary Club of Shepparton South president, David Earle said, ‘Rotary is proud to be associated with Eva and Danny and their wonderful initiative of I Wish I’d Asked.’
Source: Shepparton News | November 2018
