Year 1 students at Rose Bay Public School have spent four weeks sewing felt hearts beside local seniors, including people living with dementia, in a pilot program aimed at easing loneliness among older residents.
A Council Finding Sets Things in Motion
It began with a meeting. According to the school, Woollahra Council had looked into how older locals were faring and found that many felt lonely. The school teamed up with Holdsworth, an aged care provider based in Woollahra, to trial a response. The school calls it the Intergenerational Project, and Holdsworth ran the sessions as part of its Dementia-Friendly Woollahra program. A single Year 1 class became the first group to take part.
Why Felt Hearts?
The craft was kept simple on purpose. Each heart needed two pieces of felt, a basic running stitch and some stuffing, so nobody had to worry about getting it perfect. Sew a Softie, a global sewing initiative founded by Sydney sewing teacher Trixi Symonds, helped the teachers prepare. The school also saw the shape as meaningful, since people living with dementia often face isolation.
Chatting, Stitching and a Quicker Walk
Each week, the seniors sat alongside the children and got to work. They sewed, swapped stories and lent each other a hand.
Teacher Sarah Skelton said the difference showed up early. By the final session, one senior was moving down the school hallway much faster than at the start.
What made this class a good fit? Hannah Hatzi, the school’s relieving assistant principal for curriculum and instruction, said the students enjoy a good conversation. Staff were also surprised by how easily the children settled into the sessions, she said.
For Felicity, one of the seniors, the best part was the mix of ages. Her grandchildren have grown up, so time with young children had become rare, and she called the experience wonderful. Jan, who never had children, said she had not enjoyed anything this much in years and that it gave her a fresh view of life.
What the Children Took Away
The class got more from it than sewing skills. One Year 1 student said the group had tried to cheer up people who might be lonely, using sewing, chatting and plenty of laughter. Another said everyone helped each other learn new things and shared stories about the past. Talking with friends matters, the student said, and the sessions showed why.
Where the Hearts Will End Up
The finished hearts will be assembled into one combined artwork for the school’s Art By The Bay 2026 exhibition, which also features individual and class pieces from Kindergarten to Year 6. The school’s Family Fair runs Saturday, Oct. 24, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Entry is ticketed, with adults paying $10 and children free, though every child needs a ticket. The exhibition also opens for weekday viewing from Oct. 26 to 28.
Published Date 01-October-2026
