At about 2:00 PM on Saturday most boys are either out playing sport or enjoying their weekend in some other way. Ben Serone (10/MA), however spends his Saturday afternoons at the aged care facility Pathways Northbridge, where he helps the elderly residents paint.

While his afternoons at Pathways began as part of the compulsory Community Service he is required to complete to gain his Silver Duke of Edinburgh Award, Ben has forged some deep friendships at Pathways. Ben says having done this for a couple of months now, he has seen the confidence of each of the residents grow and realises how important such community work is for the self worth and social inclusion of those in aged care. 

“Each week, when I leave, the residents thank me and ask when I will return – I find this really satisfying,” he says. “Since the facility is of medium to high care, there are a range of needs and I have learnt to tend to the residents depending on their specific needs.”

Ben has shown great patience in sitting with the residents at Pathways to make sure that when they paint, they can do it correctly, or if they don’t want to, they have someone to talk to.

“I have made a strong connection with a couple of residents,” he said. “In particular with an elderly woman called Beverly who seems to have dementia, and talks a great deal, usually not making much sense. I spend a lot of time with her and although she never remembers my name, she remembers my face and painting. Whenever she sees me she smiles which I find deeply satisfying.” 

Sometimes Ben will do one-on-one sessions with the residents where he sits with them whilst painting and talking. One week, he even called out the numbers during a game of bingo, and played scrabble with a couple of male residents on the ground floor.

Congratulations to Ben, on being a great ambassador for Newington College and a role model for us all. Service Learning is an integral part of life at the College and it’s great to hear about boys going out and giving back to society.