A PASSION for poetry has given a group of Canberra’s oldest residents a chance to not only explore the deeper meaning behind their favourite verses but make new friends.

Husband and wife, Frank and Ruth Tome, who will reach 67 years of marriage next month, have always shared a love for poetry that has only grown since they retired 18 years ago.

After being part of a poetry group at another retirement village, they decided that they needed to also start one at their new home at Uniting Amala Independent Living in Gordon.

“When you get to our age you’ve got to keep your mind active,” says Frank, 90.

“It’s such a fine get together and helps us all get together.”

Frank says every member is invited to bring along their favourite poems to share with the group and is followed by a discussion about each poem’s meaning and symbolism.

Poetry runs in the Tome family – Frank’s younger brother Greg has written many of Frank’s favourite poems – including two on two uncles’ experiences in prisoner of war camps in World War II, and another touching poem on their mother’s experiences on their farm during World War I and II.

Frank left school when he was 13 to work on the family farm. His agricultural background led him into a career in the public service at the Department of Agriculture. Working on locust plagues, he survived a serious helicopter crash to continue his career in the department as a photographer.

Ruth was a school teacher for more than 30 years, working in small rural schools where she was often the only teacher.

“We used to travel around a lot and recite poetry to each other instead of sing because we were terrible singers,” Ruth, 93, says.

“When we grew up, poetry was organised by the state. It was something chosen by someone within the department.”

“‘My Country’ by Dorothea Mackellar, we can still recite 80 years on,” Frank says.

Unting Amala is an aged-care facility purpose built for a “household model” of care that creates an enviroment to help residents maintain their independence.

“Initiatives like this poetry club are inspiring examples of what happens when we empower residents to live the lives they want to lead,” Linda Justin, Uniting’s director of Practice and Quality, says.