Residents of Aveo’s Forest Grove Retirement Living in Brisbane’s south are keeping alive the art of letter writing by introducing the traditional practice to a generation more familiar with smart devices and gaming consoles.

The retirees have been sharing their love of handwritten communication and the valuable life skill of posting a letter with Year 4 students from Brisbane Christian College in Salisbury, 13km south of Brisbane’s CBD.

Forest Grove Community Manager Chelsea Challenor said she came up with the idea for the intergenerational Pen Pal Project earlier this year to engage a small group of more isolated residents.

“We ended up with 75 residents taking part, even those who are very socially active wanted to be involved,’’ Chelsea said.

“Residents were paired with a Year 4 student and an enthusiastic flurry of back-and-forth letter writing began.

“Everyone involved has made a special connection and it’s been a huge success spanning participants aged from nine to 104.

“The residents are inspiring a new generation to take up the lost art of letter writing and experience the pleasure of receiving a handwritten letter in the mail.’’

In November, the Forest Grove community in Durack, 17km south-southwest of Brisbane’s CBD, hosted a morning tea for the pen pals to meet face-to-face over scones and fairy bread.

“The room was abuzz with chatter. I hadn’t expected so much excitement, everyone was genuinely happy to meet each other,’’ Chelsea said.

Year 4 student Zoe said: “We are different, but we have a lot in common too.’’

Brisbane Christian College’s chaplain Jess Johnston said the project had been a special experience for the students.

“Many of the children don’t have grandparents in Australia so it was special to bond with someone of an older generation. They all look forward to continuing the exchange of many more letters in 2025,’’ she said.

Retiree Milton Eckermann said he had learned so much about his pen pal Eric through their letters.

“In Eric’s letters he spoke very freely, then when we met at the morning tea he couldn’t stop talking,” he said. “It’s wonderful to meet a child so willing to learn from someone else with age no barrier. I think there has been growth on both sides.”