An intergenerational choir connecting 4 year olds with 94 year olds, has performed a colourful recital for family and friends at Feros Care Residential village in Byron Bay.
Forty residents from Feros Care’s Byron Bay, Wommin Bay and Bangalow villages, alongside thirty children from Byron Bay Preschool performed timeless classics such as Yellow Submarine, Edelweiss, and You Are My Sunshine under the guidance of choir leader and natural voice teacher, Melia Naughton, who leads ‘Shire Choir’ – an all-inclusive pop-up choir event across the Northern Rivers of NSW.
This was the first time Ms Naughton had worked on a project that connected pre- schoolers and aged care residents.
“The joy on the children’s faces has been wonderful to witness and for the elderly it’s a joy for them to share the energy of the four-year-olds ” she said.
She added “it’s a unified sense of inclusivity of elderly people – who were children once. I think we forget this – we’re so involved in our own life that we forget we are all ageing; that one day it will be us sitting there less mobile, less able, yet still vibrant on the inside, and still with a voice and things to say and things to share.
According to Feros Care Positive Living Manager Bec Stephens whilst it has been the hot topic for the residents, with many practising between choir sessions, the children call the seniors their ‘grand friends’ and look forward to seeing them each week.
“The residents now have friends next door and they get to know the parents of the little ones as well so it’s just extending that community outside the village. It’s beautiful” said Bec.
“Creating these types of programs has fostered really genuine connections between our residents and our little preschool friends and we’ll keep building on that”.
Apart from the choir the pre- school teachers also involve the children in regular activities including garden projects in the village which all help to create great friendships.
As 98-year-old resident Nina Marzi says “It’s good for the children and it’s good for us”.
“If you watch the faces of the elderly they start smiling; they start being alive.”
Photo: Feros Village resident Alan Harkness dances with a visitor after the choir performance
