St Agnes' Parish aged care residents and students from MacKillop College have worked together on the Through Our Eyes Memoir project.

A group of 46 students from years 9, 10, 11 and 12 have been visiting residents at St Agnes' Parish aged care facilities to gain an insight into their lives and to create a memoir.

"It's been very beneficial for both the students and the residents to meet for an hour each week and learn from each other," pastoral care co-ordinator at St Agnes' Mount Carmel House and Maryknoll House Justine Worner said.

"We have wanted to start a project like this here for a while.

"The goal of the program is for aged care residents and the high school students to connect and for a memoir to be created for the resident at the end."

Justine visited MacKillop College earlier this year to speak with the students who were interested in the program and was overwhelmed with the response.

"We have wanted to build that relationship between the school and the aged care facilities for a while because we're all part of St Agnes' Parish Port Macquarie and because of the proximity of the school and our facilities," she said.

"We have 22 residents involved in the program and many have said it's the highlight of their week.

"It's been great for the residents because during the lockdown they weren't able to have visitors and didn't have that interaction with younger people."

MacKillop students Elliott Worner and Tana Marino have been meeting with Mount Carmel House resident Peter Cook over the past few weeks and said the learning experience has been eye-opening.

"It's been really interesting talking with Peter and seeing the world through someone else's eyes," Elliott said.

"We've been able to learn what life was like for someone else and learn about life experiences we didn't know about," Tana added.

The experience for Peter has also been enjoyable.

"The boys have been very good and I hope they have an understanding of what I've done in my life," he said.

"I'm looking forward to seeing the memoir that they will work on together."

Year 12 students Jasper Schultz and Bethany Hosking have been visiting Brian and Margaret Kitchin at St Agnes' Hostel and said they have learnt a great deal from the couple.

"I have really loved it. We will definitely hold onto what they've told us," Jasper said.

"It's been great to learn about their interests and their passions," Bethany said.

For Brian and Margaret, the experience has brought back many memories of their lives.

"The two girls are real sticky-beaks, but they're very lovely," Margaret said fondly.

"I have really enjoyed looking back on all of our memories."

The students have volunteered their time after school each week to meet with the residents throughout the school term and will now work on a memoir of their lives which will be presented to the residents and their families at an afternoon tea later in the year.

"We weren't expecting so much enthusiasm for the program, but it has been very beneficial for both the students and the residents," MacKillop College John Mullin Centre coordinator Karen Faichney said.

"We're hoping to grow the program and improve it for next year."

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