News

We cannot live forever, but our stories have a way of staying with our loved ones. In the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, a group of dedicated volunteer biographers record the lives of local residents accessing palliative care.

Palliative Care Volunteer Coordinator Kylie Clark says that every person has an important story to share.

“You look at an elderly person, or anyone walking on the street, and think nothing of them, but everyone has something amazing, unique, and special to tell,” Kylie said.

“With this service being for people facing a life-limiting illness, it’s really important that we capture the stories that they want to pass on to their families and loved ones.”

Under Kylie’s coordination, the volunteer team has written nearly 100 biographies. Despite the variety of backgrounds, a common theme often emerges.

“It’s amazing what people have been through, and it’s amazing that some people are still standing,” Kylie said.

“I was talking to someone who remembered Japanese submarines coming into Sydney Harbour during World War II, and I’ve spoken to First Nations people who have been taken away from family. In those stories, resilience always shines through.”

The process of looking back over a lifetime allows people to find a sense of relief from the daily challenges of being unwell.

“People often don’t tell their whole lives out loud. They will tell a little story here and there, but when they have someone sitting with them for weeks who is just interested in hearing about them, it’s really validating,” Kylie explained.

One such person is George, a First Nations man who wanted to record his story for his descendants.

“He’s had a very eventful life, he loves telling a yarn, and he is very proud of his grandchildren. A couple of his grandchildren do the Welcome to Country at their primary schools, and he wanted to pass on his history and wisdom to them,” Kylie said.

“He wanted to capture that because he has had some tough times, but he is also very positive and has a sparkle in his eyes. He lights up when he’s telling his stories. Every time we see him, he has another story to tell.”

Written biographies can be tailored to family needs.

“We recently met a young woman in her 30s who had a one-year-old and a three-year-old, and she was very proactive. She wrote them poems and stories, and she told them what her hopes and dreams were for them,” Kylie said.

“She was very pragmatic about it, and I think it gave her a sense of control and a sense of peace knowing that her kids would have these words.”

With many more stories to record in the Nepean region, Kylie plans to grow the team of biographers this year.

“We have 15 biographers and we’re about to train more. I’m hoping to build a team of around 25 biographers,” she stated.

“It’s one day of training from 9am to 4pm. In terms of ongoing commitment, it takes around six hours one day a week to visit the person and then transcribe. Sometimes we do a bit of research as well. For instance, if someone has a migration story, we’ll find an image of the boat they came over in and add that to the biography.”

If you are interested in volunteering as a biographer for the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District, please email Kylie Clark.

Photo credit: Ally Hall, The Western Weekender.