Celebrating Connection, Culture and Community at Reflections at Eppalock
A spirit of warmth, togetherness, and cultural celebration filled Reflections at Eppalock as the Dementia Alliance hosted a special gathering focused on connection, culture, and community.
The day began with the comforting aroma of wattleseed scones, giving participants the perfect chance to settle in, meet others, and build meaningful relationships. It set the tone for what would become a deeply reflective and inspiring day.
The first activity, Take a Leaf from Our Book, invited everyone to pause and reflect on the shared journey of Dementia Alliance and the Reflections community — a journey grounded in connection to each other, to Country, and to the stories that continue to shape this region. Through gentle, guided reflection, participants shared moments of creativity, collaboration, and personal insight, strengthening the bonds already growing between them.
A relaxed sausage sizzle followed, offering another chance to connect before the formal proceedings of the afternoon.
After lunch, Carers Victoria’s General Manager – Impact & Engagement, Andrew Lyall, officially launched Celebrating Connection Through Culture & Community. Andrew congratulated Dementia Alliance on receiving a $25,000 Carers Victoria Small Grant for 2025. He acknowledged the organisation’s incredible work in supporting carers and recognised the unique, welcoming space being created at Reflections for families, carers, and the wider community.
The event also featured Voices of Connection — a rare and powerful opportunity for carers, people with lived experience of dementia, community members, service providers, and cultural leaders to share their perspectives side-by-side. This was followed by Weaving the Threads of Connection, where insights from each group were brought together to shape a shared vision for a more inclusive, dementia-friendly future.
These collective insights — along with input from those unable to attend — will form the basis for Dementia Alliance’s upcoming practical resource, Caring for the Carer, ensuring community voices remain at the centre of future work. This knowledge will also help guide the development of Dementia Alliance’s Bush-Inspired Community of Care model.
A highlight of the day was the presence of Uncle Jason Kerr, a direct descendant of the great Leonard Kerr of Dja Dja Wurrung Country (c. 1854). His Welcome to Country and smoking ceremony, accompanied by the resonant sound of the didgeridoo, grounded the gathering in deep cultural meaning. Uncle Jason also created a powerful stone artwork representing the three rivers — Avoca, Loddon and Campaspe symbolising the flow of culture, connection, and community. Its design beautifully echoed the event’s theme and the importance of honouring the ties that bind us.
Participants later took part in the Ritual of Reflection, creating their own stone artworks to capture memories, messages, and moments of connection. These stones were placed beneath Bunjil the Eagle — Creator and Protector — where they will remain as a lasting tribute to the journeys of people living with dementia, their carers, families, and the community that surrounds them.
As the sun set, the day shifted into celebration. Guests enjoyed delicious food, singing, dancing, beautiful gamelan music, and stories shared under the night sky — a joyful close to a day dedicated to honouring connection in all its forms.
Thank you to our small but mighty team of volunteers for your passion, commitment, and unwavering dedication to the work at Reflections at Eppalock. Your hard work and heart were truly central to the day’s success. Thank you also to everyone who participated, shared, listened, and contributed to creating a day grounded in connection, culture and community.
Sandra Slatter
Founder and President, Dementia Alliance
Uncle Jason Kerr traditional owner Dja Dja Wurrung Country.
Powerful stone artwork representing the three rivers Avoca, Loddon and Campaspe.
Symbolising the flow of culture, connection, and community.
Its design beautifully echoed the event’s theme and the importance of honouring the ties that bind us.