Dementia Australia congratulates Dementia Advocate Anne Tudor OAM on receiving the Premier’s Award for Victorian Senior of the Year for an outstanding contribution by an individual to their local community and Victoria. Ms Tudor has been recognised for her commitment to raising awareness about dementia and advocating for people impacted by dementia nationally, internationally and locally in Ballarat.
Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe AM acknowledged Ms Tudor for this prestigious honour on behalf of all people impacted by dementia.
“I am absolutely delighted Anne has been recognised for this well-deserved honour as 2021 Victorian Senior of the Year,” Ms McCabe said.
When Anne’s wife Edie Mayhew was diagnosed with dementia at the age of 59, Anne and Edie committed to doing whatever they could to increase awareness and understanding about younger onset dementia – when a person is diagnosed under the aged of 65.
Sadly, Edie died in 2020, aged 69, from dementia-related complications. Anne has continued with their advocacy as the driving force behind projects she started with Edie.
Anne and Edie’s advocacy contribution has included sharing their experiences of dementia by speaking at major events and conferences including the Alzheimer’s Australia ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Younger Onset Dementia and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Consumer Summits in Melbourne and Canberra, Alzheimer’s Australia ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Conferences in Hobart, Perth and Melbourne, and international conferences in Budapest and Wellington.
Together they contributed to policy papers, reports and multiple government submissions by Dementia Australia, and as a member of advisory panels that have influenced decision-making federally and in Victorian governments. Anne and Edie participated in numerous research projects, most notably for them, the Younger Onset Dementia Assistance Dogs project which brought the much-loved Labrador, Melvin into their lives.
In 2016 they established the Bigger Hearts, Dementia-Friendly Ballarat campaign aiming to make Ballarat a dementia-friendly community. To this day the project remains strong and active. Since its inception, it has created films, hosted events, directly supported people impacted by dementia and inspired others impacted by dementia and inspired key business and community leaders to get involved. The Bigger Hearts Alliance is now a flagship of Dementia Australia’s federally funded Dementia-Friendly Communities program.
In the same year Anne and Edie received the Outstanding Achievement by a Volunteer: Supporting Diversity Award at the Victorian Minister for Health Volunteer Awards, as well as Honorary Membership of the then Alzheimer’s Australia Vic.
In 2017 Anne supported Edie to speak in the Victorian Parliament at a Parliamentary Friends of Dementia event, poignantly and bravely sharing to a room full of MPs why ‘a good death was her right’ during the voluntary assisted dying debate.
Anne and Edie’s story has been shared in the media including Ballarat’s The Courier, The Age, The Guardian, SBS, ABC 7:30 and many more news outlets spreading much-needed awareness to thousands of people over the years.
In recent years Anne and Edie were consultants to Parks Victoria on the development of the world-first, dementia-friendly sensory and forest trail established in Ballarat’s Woowookarung Regional Park.
“I have been privileged to attend several Bigger Hearts events over the years from film launches to community events and most recently in June, I was honoured to be part of the official opening of the Woowookarung Regional Park Dementia-Sensory Trail,” Ms McCabe said.
Ms Tudor said she was initially inspired to support others impacted by dementia because of the positive approach Edie, her soul mate and wife, adopted after a diagnosis of younger onset dementia.
“Having had the great fortune to meet so many amazing people living with dementia and care partners and others working to support people impacted by dementia, it soon because a labour of love for both of us,” Ms Tudor said.
“Edie shares in this amazing acknowledgment as do so many others in Ballarat and around the world who are committed to making a difference to the lives of those impacted by dementia.”
“Anne has been an inspiration to family carers across Australia as she supported Edie throughout her years of advocacy empowering her, as a person living with dementia, to have a voice that was heard, included and influenced change and policy at all levels of government and across the health, aged care and diversity sectors,” Ms McCabe said.
“They were both incredibly generous with their time and they were always guided by a drive to help others, now and for generations to come. The legacy of their dedication and advocacy work will have an enormous and lasting impact on the lives of all people living with dementia, their families and carers.
“I have been honoured to spend many treasured moments with both Anne and Edie and I know many advocates, researchers and staff who have known them and always valued their input.
“Anne remains involved, still contributing and making a difference to the lives of people of all ages living with all forms of dementia, their families and carers.
“Anne is to be commended for her conviction, passion, compassion, empathy and vision and this award is a wonderful acknowledgment of a contribution that will resonate and influence positive change for generations to come.”
Dementia Australia is the source of trusted information, education and services for the estimated half a million Australians living with dementia, and the almost 1.6 million people involved in their care. We advocate for positive change and support vital research. We are here to support people impacted by dementia, and to enable them to live as well as possible. No matter how you are impacted by dementia or who you are, we are here for you.
