Celebrating Ballarat’s outstanding older residents

One morning, just before Christmas in 2019, Ballarat resident Anne Tudor and her wife Edie Mayhew took a walk through the Woowookarung Regional Park. 

At one point Edie, who had been diagnosed with younger onset dementia a decade prior, looked up and said, “the trees want to know how we are”. 

Anne, who was often taken aback by her wife’s innocence and wisdom, began to think about the space differently. 

“My perspective and experience of forests changed. Now I can’t go to forests without thinking about the trees and what they are thinking.” 

Fast-forward three years and Woowookarung Regional Park is now home to Australia’s first dementia-friendly forest and sensory trail. 

Anne, a dementia advocate, was awarded the Mayor’s Award in the City of Ballarat’s Senior of the Year Awards in 2017 before being awarded the Premier’s Award for the Victorian Senior of the Year in 2021. 

As part of Ballarat Seniors Festival, which runs throughout October, the City of Ballarat officially recognised more of our shining seniors for their outstanding contributions to the city in the 2022 Ballarat Senior Awards. 

City of Ballarat Mayor, Cr Daniel Moloney said Ballarat is extremely thankful for the contribution of our community’s older population. 

“Exceptional seniors, such as Anne, who offer their time and skills to benefit Ballarat residents and the entire community are so important to us,” he said. 

“I extend a heartful thank you to all of the seniors who contribute to making our community an even better place in which to live.” 

Built by Parks Victoria, the dementia-friendly forest and sensory trail is an example of synchronicity – Anne and Edie lit the spark, a grant from Dementia Australia created momentum, and Parks Victoria and Friends of Canadian Corridor provided the support and encouragement. 

Spanning 1.8kms, the trail is designed to evoke positive memories, feelings and sensations through plants, sculptures, sensory aspects and quiet places for reflection. 

To pay homage to Edie, there is a life-sized rustic steel bush window inscribed with her words – the trees want to know how you are. 

“Right from the beginning we wanted the dementia trail to be inclusive of all people. That’s why the path is extra wide so it can be used by wheelchairs, carers and family dogs on lead.” 

The trail opened on 25 June 2021, one year after Edie died. 

It has since become a beloved community asset with many groups, schools and local creatives enhancing the space through plantings, maintenance, artworks and technology. 

“The testament to how much it’s loved is that it gets about 400 visitors a week,” Anne said. 

“I have had so many people tell me how it has helped individuals and families get through the pandemic, children with special needs feel safe, and people from aged-care homes love visiting. It’s a magical space that embraces and welcomes everybody.” 

After receiving Edie’s diagnosis, Anne said they were motivated to help others. One of their most significant achievements was when they launched Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance Ballarat in 2016 – a grassroots campaign which inspires Ballarat to become a dementia-friendly city. 

Anne said her proudest moments are when she hears how her, and Edie’s story has affected others. 

“There are many people in our community who feel lost when they are told their loved one has dementia,” she said. 

“I want to tell them that life doesn’t end with a dementia diagnosis. People with dementia are still very much present and still have so much to give and enjoy.” 

Anne is a big advocate for positive ageing and leads her life by example. 

Anne recently returned from a road trip through South Australia where she drove a recreational vehicle for the first time, with her dog Melvin. 

“Even though this trip is something Edie and I would have done together, I am grateful to be alive and well and be able to enjoy this new experience.”