While many tattoos hold a certain symbolism to their bearer, the design chosen by someone getting their first ink at the age of 80 must have an incredibly special meaning. ABC2's new show, Tattoo Tales, follows the journey of some of the customers of Bondi Ink, a busy tattoo parlour on Sydney's Eastern beaches, including Jan Bearman, who was prompted by the death of her beloved daughter to make a decision that took the rest of her family and friends by surprise. 'Before I lost my darling Shell I wouldn't have dreamed of having a tattoo. But when something like that happens you're left grasping at straws. There's a hole left in your life and all you can do is say your prayers,' Jan told Daily Mail Australia. For the past three years, Jan Bearman has had a new tattoo inked on her shoulder every birthday in memory of her daughter Shell, who died of complications from diabetes in . Jan's daughter Shelley died in 2011 at the age of 56 of complications from her diabetes . 'There were reminders of her all around me, and I decided to get a reminder of her on me,' Jan, now 83, said. When Shelley, who was fondly nicknamed Shell, died in 2011 at the age of 56 from complications of the diabetes she had lived with for nearly all her life, two of Jan's granddaughters and Shell's husband decided to get tattoos in memory of her. 'And then I just couldn't think of a reason to not get one,' Jan said. 'Shell was just such a gorgeous girl. It's a loss that leaves a hole in your heart that's never filled again. You do these things as a memorial, to carry [her] with you,' she said. Jan said that when she announced her decision to her family, they were quite surprised but supportive the unexpected move from the now 83-year-old. 'I think they were a bit surprised but they didn't say "don't do it", they said "go ahead if it will make you feel better",' she said. 'I tried to con my other daughter into getting one too but she wasn't having any of it.' Soon after the decision had been made, Jan was spending the day with one of Shell's daughters, when they passed Bondi Ink. 'Shell was just such a gorgeous girl,' said Jan (left) of her eldest daughter, with her other daughter Lisa (right) Jan getting her third tattoo, a shell, by tattoo artist Shaun 'Bones' from Bondi Ink . Jan said that her tattoos are a memorial and a way for her to carry her children with her . 'She popped in and asked if they had a spare moment to chat about getting a tattoo. They asked her "oh, are you thinking of getting one", and she said "no, it's for my grandmother",' Jan said. 'The man at the counter said "that's gold", and it went from there,' she said. For her 80th birthday, Jan had Shell's name inked on her upper arm near her shoulder, along with a cross, and said that she was surprised at how painless it was. 'I was surprised to be honest. I don't know if I'm a bit tough, but it certainly wasn't unbearable,' Jan said. 'There are parts of the body that are easier, and one of those is the arm, which is where I got mine,' she said. The now-83-year-old wasn't done with just the one tattoo, and continued coming back to the studio each year for another tattoo to commemorate her daughter, tattooing the initials of her three children above the cross on her second run. In the second episode of Tattoo Tales, Jan gets her third tattoo- a beautiful coloured shell below her daughter's name. 'Nobody sees it but me, it's just my family who knows and the friends I've mentioned it to,' Jan said. Jan got a shell as her third tattoo, in memory of her daughter Shelley, who was nicknamed Shell . 'I don't know if I'm a bit tough, but [the pain] certainly wasn't unbearable,' Jan said of her experience in the chair . Jan with her daughter and granddaughters at one of their 'girls lunches' in Sydney . 'Shell didn't have any tattoos but I'd like to think she'd have a smile to herself if she saw them on me,' she said. Jan said that she used to not be a fan of tattoos, but that now she doesn't assume that people are different simply because they are inked. 'I'd be a hypocrite if I did. I don't hold anything different against them, although I do worry when I see young girls with tattoos all over them that they'll go through life and get older and be sorry they got so many,' she said. Jan is unsure whether she will continue to go back for more tattoos on her birthday as has become the tradition. The owner of Bondi Ink, John, said that this year's tattoo was his 'birthday present' to Jan, and insisted she come back for her gift next year. 'He always gives me a big hug, and says "see you next year",' she said. Jan said that the restaurant where she has her birthday lunch each year is right across the road from Bondi Ink, which may prove tempting. 'I think I've done my dash. The birthday lunch get-togethers are always so nice though, so maybe I will get another one later,' she said. Jan features in episode two of Tattoo Tales which airs on ABC2 on Wednesday April 9 at 9.40pm. Episode Two of Tattoo Tales airs on ABC2 on Wednesday April 9 at 9.40pm .
Jan Bearman surprised her family and decided to get her first tattoo at the age of 80 after her daughter Shelley died in 2011 . She has returned to the tattoo parlour twice on her birthday to have more tattoos inked in memory of her daughter and other children . ABC2's Tattoo Tales followed Jan as she went in for her third tattoo . Jan said that she feels as though her tattoos are a memorial, and she is able to carry her daughter with her .