At 102 years old, Florence Wheeler never expected to share her life story with a 16-year-old stranger, but it turned out to be an experience they will both cherish.

As part of a program run by Allity Aged Care at her nursing home in Walkerville in Adelaide's inner south-east, Mrs Wheeler sat down with year 10 student Nathan McCarthy once a week for 10 weeks to co-write her memoirs.

"I thought probably I would just fade away. I really did. I never thought anything like this would happen, to be with people who come and want to know things about you," Mrs Wheeler said.

In partnership with Rostrevor College, the program paired nine year 10 students with residents to document their life's ups and downs as part of their English curriculum studies.

Nathan said he was nervous heading into his first meeting with Mrs Wheeler but once they started talking, their friendship bloomed.

"It was really surprising just hearing what she did [is] different to what I do, how she lived compared to how I live," he said.

"It was an unexpected relationship that formed, but we formed it well and we've grown a strong bond."

Mrs Wheeler said she thoroughly enjoyed their weekly meetings.

"I like Nathan. I think he's a nice chap," she said.

"I'm quite enjoying just talking about the past, especially Eden Hills days.

"They were the days I really remembered. When I was a young girl, I won the Hills championship in tennis. I beat a girl up there who was ranked fairly high in the state, and I beat her in the final and I was very pleased with that."

Memoir exercise 'makes you feel younger'

Fellow resident Kathie Beasley said she was apprehensive about participating in the program at first.

"It's been a learning curve at 93," she said.

"Over the years, I've got to learn to live with myself, in myself, and it's just been me. So, this has opened me up quite a bit, and I've remembered things — not that I had forgotten — but they had been tucked away."

Clinton Nitschke says he learnt a lot about life after working with Kathie Beasley. ( Website: Rostrevor College )

Mrs Beasley said sharing her stories with 15-year-old Clinton Nitschke had been an eye-opening experience and helped her to come out of her shell.

"I think anyone, if they get the opportunity to do it, just do it. It's an eye-opener. It's a help. I think it makes you feel younger," she said.

"I just like meeting people now. Before I used to hide behind the curtain."

Reflecting on the time he spent getting know Mrs Beasley, Clinton said after the first meeting it was just like catching up with a friend each week.

"I saw no gap between us because we made that strong connection to each other and all those similarities, and I found a great friend in her and that's why this experience has been so amazing," he said.

Program to be rolled out in other states

At the end of the 10 weeks, the students read an exerpt from the memoirs to each resident and presented them with a book in front of a crowd of family and friends.

After giving his presentation, Nathan hugged Mrs Wheeler.

"This program has taught me a lot about my life and how I should live it," he told the crowd.

"She is a remarkable woman and I am privileged to have gotten to know her."

The program has been such a success Allity has decided to roll it out to all of its aged care homes in South Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales and get more schools on board.

"For residents, maintaining the community connection leads to a better frame of mind and to better health," Allity communications director Janet Leung said.

"For the students, they learned an appreciation for a world that is wider than their own, and real friendships have been made."