Riverside PhD student Joan Webb with the book. Picture: WILL SWAN
THE musings, memories and prose of some of Launceston's wisest residents have been immortalised in print.
Who Needs Shakespeare? is the result of 10 months of collaborative work between five members of the Legana Presbyterian Home and 86-year-old Riverside PhD student Joan Webb.
Mrs Webb has been facilitating creative writing classes at the nursing home as part of her study about the value of intellectual stimulation, particularly creative writing for those in care homes.
``It's a follow-on from my masters study `I don't believe in old age', which was formed through working with people at the school for seniors,'' Mrs Webb said.
``Gradually they became more trusting and able to show their creativity in front of others.
``Some could not [physically] write, speak, hear or see, but they were still able to be creative.
``Creativity is an important thing to hold on to. It is our hopes, our dreams, our passions and our fantasies.''
The book, launched on Wednesday, is a collection of Mrs Webb's time with the residents - even the cover has been illustrated by one of the participants.
A second book will be released in the coming months called Rambling Rhymes and Other Delights .