Merewether High students share joy by putting pen to paper

Every month students from Merewether High School put pen to paper and write 50 letters for nursing home residents to alleviate loneliness.

It’s all part of the Love from Leo campaign, formed by the school’s Leo Club in 2023.

For the past four years, Khuslen Batmandakh has fronted the club, serving as president for the past two.

The team writes letters for all occasions and holidays, with the club building an official letterbox in the school’s library for the messages sent to residents of an aged care facility in Tea Gardens.

“We always start with ‘Dear Friend’… and we normally talk about our pets, travel plans, our families, classes,” she said.

“The staff and residents do respond back, so I’ve personally formed bonds with a few different ladies.

“They’re basically my friends who happen to live in a nursing home.”

A Leo Club is a group of young people who participate in social service activities and projects in areas like healthcare, education and literacy.

“Elderly people are so integral to our community; and we’ve got to give back thanks and remind them that they’re loved.”

But, Khuslen is not only a savvy writer, but she is also an avid reader as well.

When she was 13, she felt people in her local neighbourhood of Jesmond did not have enough access to literature.

So, she banded together with members of her community to form the Jesmond Book Nook in the local shopping centre.

The space has seen more than 3,000 books on its shelves, serving as a space for residents to stop and appreciate the power of reading.

Find more community stories in our Autumn edition of Hunter & Coastal Lifestyle Magazine or subscribe here.

Story Olivia Goeldner