Fergus: What did you think of me when we first met?
Ron: Intelligent young fellow. Great looking young fellow.
I haven't got a daughter but certainly...
Narrator: Fergus is an aged care volunteer visitor.
Fergus: Hi Ron. How are you?
Ron: Good Fergus
Fergus: Good to see you.
Ron: Good to see you.
Narrator: Between studying for his degree, he pays regular visits to see Ron. Over the past few months they have built a strong friendship.
Ron: This is the fellow I look forward to seeing every week or two. He's one young fellow who's really up with it.
Fergus: Thank you.
Ron: And I don't know what you thought about me.
Fergus: I think you're probably like a bit of a duck. You look very calm on top. I hope I'm that positive when I get to 89.
Ron: I had the dietician came in yesterday. I said, "I'm worried about putting on weight. I'm cutting out ice cream. I'm still putting on weight."
Fergus: I don't think you have to worry.
Ron: It is a worry 'cause the trousers don't fit!
Narrator: Friendships across generations have huge benefits for individuals and society. They offer unique perspectives and improve the mood and outlook for everyone involved.
Fergus: What's good about having a friend with a big age gap?
Ron: It gives me an aspect of young people these days and how they think.
Fergus: You think of making friendships as kind of like something that mainly happens when you're younger but it's kinda nice to flip that on its head. I've been lucky to befriend someone who's lived like a really positive and fulfilling life.
Ron: What was it that finally made you say that, "This year, I volunteer?"
Fergus: Well, I suppose like the reason I started volunteering was because I felt like I'd kinda spent a lot of time probably thinking a little bit too much about myself. That was kind of a good motivation to step out of my
comfort zone a little bit and explore volunteering. It's been good fun. I've enjoyed it from the get-go.
Ron: No one's told him he's gotta volunteer.
Woman off camera: He's a good bloke.
Ron: Just a good bloke.
Fergus: Thanks Ron.
Ron: It's a good thing. Should be more of it.
Narrator: We're looking for aged care volunteer visitors in your area. Go online and sign up today.
Fergus visits Ron every week or two as a volunteer. They open up about the importance of building an intergenerational friendship and learning from each other.