Fun and games bridging age divide

A 12-year-old student approached Dardanup Lions Club for some money so he could buy some board games and other fun activities.

Imagine his excitement when the club handed over a cheque for $200.

However, the games are not for him - they are for a group of senior residents from Ocean Star Aged Care that he and four other home-schooled students have become friends with.

What started out as a community service 'project' has grown into a fortnightly game and trivia session, which the residents wait in anticipation for, according to staff at the centre.

Visiting the residents since April, Koby McCosker-Norden wrote a letter to the Dardanup Lions Club asking for the donation.

Koby said he was thrilled and grateful to receive the money from the club, but he "did it on behalf of everyone".

He said the students had benefited from the friendships.

"We talk about history and they teach us stuff, but we teach them some things too," he said.

"But we mainly do it to give back and help them out."

The students bought several board games, art and crafts activities and puzzles with the donation.

Ocean Star lifestyle coordinator Trudy Turner said residents looked forward to the students' visits every fortnight.

"A lot of them don't have that family network, so it's great for them," she said.