Aveo organised for students to visit Aveo Veronica Gardens Retirement Village in Northcote, an inner suburb of Melbourne, for a spot of cooking.
“If we’re honest, the sausage rolls were never really the point. The real magic was in the connection,” said Cheryl Leonard, Community Manager Veronica Gardens.
“There’s something special about these two communities coming together. Scape and Aveo are sister companies under The Living Co., and while we might look after very different resident bases, students just starting out, and residents with a lifetime of stories behind them, it turns out they have far more in common than you’d expect. A love of good conversation. Curiosity about one another’s lives. And, on this afternoon, a shared appreciation for a warm sausage roll fresh from the oven,” Cheryl said.
“Our residents were genuinely curious to hear what the students were studying and what life looked like for them, especially as many of their families are back home in different locations around the world.”
Chery continued: “For our residents, afternoons like this are about so much more than sharing a recipe. They bring fresh energy and new faces into the village, a sense of purpose in sharing wisdom and stories, and a reminder that connection has no age limit. For the students, many a long way from home, it’s a bit of warmth, a listening ear, and perhaps a feeling of family while theirs are far away.
“It was a simple afternoon that reminded us how much can come from sharing a kitchen, a story, and food.”