Recording a Fortunate Life

23 year old Jessica Arrantash is living proof that age is no barrier to making firm friendships. The Advocare volunteer and English literature graduate has been spending time every week with RAAFA Air Force Memorial Estate resident Iris Heuchan, both to get to know her and ultimately write her life story.

“Meeting and getting to know Iris has been so enjoyable, she is such an incredibly independent woman and has had an incredibly interesting life,” says Jessica who is currently volunteering with Advocare during her gap year, and whose grandfather is also a volunteer at RAAFA’s Aviation Museum.

“She has certainly endured hardship in her life, but she is a hugely optimistic and inspiring lady who has an incredibly loving family.  I really enjoy her company and come away from every session with pages and pages of notes.

“I feel incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity which I’m finding very rewarding, Iris and I have certainly become firm friends.”

And by her own admission, Iris is also thrilled to be having her life story recorded – and she admits to being amazed that she can recall so much from the past.

“It’s actually incredible that I can remember so much from back then, particularly from my childhood,” she says. “It has helped me to relive some of the wonderful moment of my life, including meeting my husband, who was just the best man in the world.

Jessica will soon start to write up Iris’s story, which she will then present to her and her family for posterity.

“It’s a real honour to have the opportunity to write Iris’s life story, and an experience that I will always treasure,” she says.

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