Forget Me Not Committee - Kate Ward, Edwina Hanneysee, Penny Whitehead, Alexandra Boston, Matt O'Kane, Lizzie Larcey, Jeanette Schreuders, Peta Baldacchino, Ebony Ogilvie and Matt Elder.

Ten individuals that were brought together by friendship and sorrow.

In late 2023, this group of Geelong locals found themselves connecting over a shared reality - someone they loved dearly was living with, or had died from, the hideous disease that is dementia.

What started as informal conversation soon revealed a profound passion for change.

From this heartfelt connection, the ‘Forget Me Not Committee’ was born. With diverse skills and a unified purpose, this remarkable group set out to make a genuine difference. Their first step was creating the Forget Me Not Gala Ball, an event dedicated to raising vital funds for dementia research and increasing awareness within our community.

More than 433,000 Australians live with dementia today, a number expected to nearly double in the next 25 years. It is the leading cause of death nationally* and affects one in ten Australians over 65. Here in Geelong and the Barwon South-West region, these statistics resonate deeply in our community. This is why the work of the Forget Me Not Committee is so vital. Their efforts are driven by a powerful desire to stand with others affected by dementia, and to honour the stories of loved ones, ensuring they are remembered and never forgotten.

Geelong has since united for two Forget Me Not Gala events, raising over $120,000 to date. These generous funds have established the Forget Me Not Geelong Dementia Fund at the Barwon Health Foundation. A legacy fund that is invested and will continue to grow to support a significant and impactful Dementia research project in the future.

The dream: to one day find a cure.

Barwon Health is a leader in dementia care, partnering closely with Deakin University and collaborating on national and international research and is also home to the only public specialist dementia care program in regional Victoria. The goal of this fund is to support research that will be translated into improved care for our community, while also contributing to the broader fight against dementia.

With each ball and every fundraising initiative, the Forget Me Not Fund grows stronger.  Their fundraising is currently building a corpus in the Forget Me Not named fund that will be allocated towards a significant Barwon Health Research project in dementia, committed to local support of a worldwide issue. 

This Dementia Action Week, I am inspired by what these ten inspiring individuals have already achieved in just two short years. Together they are shining a light on dementia related research to help families in the future.

If you have been touched by dementia, please consider supporting the work of the Forget Me Not Fund, please visit, forgetmenotball.com.au