The Pulse: July 2025
Your monthly update on the latest initiatives, innovations, and impacts from Dementia Alliance—keeping you connected to the heartbeat of our work
It’s been a month of incredible activity and heartwarming progress at Reflections. July brought with it our biggest Carers Lunch yet, as well as the nearing completion of project work by our dedicated La Trobe Occupational Therapy and Speech students, who wrap up at the end of August.
We’ve continued to connect with a growing number of organisations eager to volunteer, and proudly celebrated milestones including our first overnight stay — a big step in testing and shaping our future offerings.
We’re also grateful for the support of the Rotary Club of Kangaroo Flat, whose generous donation is helping to bring Stage 1 irrigation to life. And all around us, the gardens are blooming with purpose, as work ramps up on Stage 2: Stillness in Flight and the Healing Garden.
There’s a real sense of momentum and shared vision, and we can’t wait to share all that’s unfolding.
A Buzzing Carers Lunch Full of Connection and Insight
This month’s Carers Lunch was one of our biggest yet — filled with energy, conversation, and connection. We were delighted to be joined by our La Trobe rural School of Health Occupational and Speech students, who brought curiosity, compassion, and an eagerness to learn.
The room was buzzing with chatter, smiles and laughter — a true reflection of the spirit of our community.
A heartfelt thank you to Jan and Rudi for preparing a magnificent BBQ lunch that warmed both hearts and bellies.
A special part of the day was a series of interviews conducted by the speech students, capturing the lived experiences of people living with dementia and their carers. The insights shared were deeply moving, touching on the many aspects of dementia — from memory and identity to love, loss and resilience.
The students will be using snippets from these interviews as part of their Communication Project — a series of modules designed to highlight the value and impact of effective, empathetic, and responsive communication for people living with dementia and their carers. We’ll also be sharing some of these powerful reflections on our website and Facebook page in the coming weeks — so stay tuned.
We are deeply honoured to be acknowledged by Jannette Speiring a global leading in dementia innovation and founder of The Hogeweyk
We were deeply humbled and honoured to receive this heartfelt message from a respected leader in the dementia field. Their words are a powerful reminder of the importance of community, collaboration, and the ongoing work we do together.
To know that our efforts are seen, valued, and considered impactful by someone with decades of experience in dementia care is both affirming and motivating.
“Over the decades, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and working with many wonderful people — and Sandra, you along with the members of Dementia Alliance, are truly among them.
I want to sincerely thank you for our conversations, our collaboration, and all the meaningful moments we’ve shared. Your perseverance, your unwavering drive, and the impressive accomplishments you’ve already achieved are a true inspiration.
It’s equally inspiring to see how you continue to look ahead with such clarity of vision and commitment.
I’m confident that your innovative work will not only be recognized and embraced by others but will also make a lasting contribution to the care and quality of life for people living with dementia in Australia”. Jannette
Thank You Kangaroo Flat Rotary Club!
They may be small in number, but they sure are mighty! With just 16 members, the Kangaroo Flat Rotary Club is making a big impact in their community — from hosting weekly dinners for up to 80 people, to supporting meaningful local projects.
Sandra, Jan, Marg, and Phannika were recently invited to share the story of Reflections at Eppalock at one of their community dinners. We were welcomed with warmth and generosity, and enjoyed an incredible meal lovingly prepared by Rotarian Sue — four delicious dishes, rice, garlic bread, and a standout dessert from Rotarian Judy. As Judy so beautifully said, “we might be small, but it’s about quality, not quantity.”
What touched us most was the genuine friendship we formed — with recipe-sharing already underway for our upcoming Carers’ Lunches, and further connections to follow.
To top off the evening, we were honoured to be presented with a $2,000 donation to support the irrigation of our ever-growing gardens. This new system will save countless volunteer hours, freeing us up to focus on developing even more community-driven projects.
Connecting Through Conversation and Care
Today we were honoured to host a special lunch for the Bendigo IBM Myositis Support Group — a wonderful gathering of people living with a rare condition called Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM).
IBM is a progressive muscle-wasting disease that affects mobility, strength, and independence. It’s rare, often misunderstood, and can be incredibly isolating — which makes supportive connections like today all the more meaningful.
It was a privilege to share stories, learn about the lived experience of IBM, and offer the warmth of friendship and understanding. We also had the chance to share the work we're doing here at Reflections at Eppalock, and we hope this is the beginning of a lasting connection.
Our thanks to everyone who came — your courage, generosity, and insight made today truly special.
Another milestone at Reflections!
We’re excited to share that we're currently undertaking a liveability evaluation to ensure Costerfield House is ready to welcome people for overnight respite.
Last night, Dot and her carer Marg – both valued Dementia Alliance team members – were the very first to try out the accommodation.
Although a few minor issues were identified during the recent trial, they’ll be easily resolved in the coming days. Overall, the experience provided valuable insights — and plenty of positives to celebrate. The bed was soft, cosy, and inviting — just what’s needed for a restful night’s sleep. The shower was spacious, easy to use, and offered great pressure and accessibility, while the air conditioning kept the space warm and comfortable throughout.
Marg shared:
“We spent a lovely afternoon and night soaking up the tranquility at Reflections. Thank you for the beautiful little touches — the handmade biscuits and chocolates, and the comfort bag with a patchwork quilt, fiddle blanket, and the sweetest comfort teddy bear, all created by our Hands & Hearts group.”
More testing will be undertaken during August, and we’re thrilled to share that the first official overnight stay will coincide with our Birthday Celebration during Dementia Action Week in September.
Growing Together: Gardens in Full Bloom
There’s been a real buzz of activity across all our garden projects — and it’s wonderful to see so many hands and hearts coming together. The wicking bed installation is now complete and freshly planted, providing a sustainable way to grow herbs and vegetables for our community.
Meanwhile, work is well underway on both our Stillness in Flight and Healing Gardens, with incredible support from local organisations and volunteers who have pledged their time to help with the planting.
These beautiful spaces are taking shape and will be officially unveiled as part of our 1st Birthday Celebration, marking a major milestone; completion of Stage 2 as we also begin Stage 2 works.
Welcome Back, BDAC Friends
After a short break, it was a joy to welcome back our friends from the Bendigo & District Aboriginal Cooperative (BDAC) to Reflections. They were amazed at how much progress has been made since their last visit – and there was plenty to catch up on, with stories, smiles, and shared purpose
Together, we planted out our wicking beds with a vibrant mix of veggie seedlings and strawberries kindly donated by Jenny, one of our regular and much-loved garden volunteers. Jenny is often found weeding, planting, and watering – helping the garden thrive.
We’re also very excited about an upcoming visit, organised by Allisson, BDAC’s Aboriginal Disability Liaison Officer & Activities Worker. We’ll be heading to Murnong Mummas – an inspiring Indigenous-led social enterprise working with native foods and botanicals. This visit will be a valuable opportunity for our team to learn more about bush tucker and medicinal plants, deepening the knowledge and care we’re cultivating in our Healing Garden.
Stillness in Flight
Something special is taking shape at Reflections…
We’ve just completed the first section of our Stillness in Flight sculpture trail — celebrating our beautiful water birds. Created in weathered corten steel, these sculptures capture the calm and quiet beauty of the wetland creatures that call this place home. From frogs to herons, each figure brings the space to life.
We’ve now begun work on the next chapter — birds of flight, taking the story skyward.
Soon, each bird will have a nameplate and a QR code beneath it. Scan the code to hear the call of each bird — a unique way to connect, learn and listen to Country.
Wings of Connection: Restoring Habitat, Inspiring Community
Wings of Connection lays the ecological and social foundations for the Healing Garden, weaving together habitat restoration and community engagement.
By restoring bird and bee habitats, planting nectar-rich understories, and hosting hands-on workshops on bird box and bee home design, this project delivers both practical action and powerful education.
A big thank you to Gaelle Broad, Member of the Victorian Legislative Council, for introducing us to the Emu Creek Men’s Shed, who are now hard at work constructing 50 bird nesting boxes. We’re also grateful for Gaelle’s generous donation of $1,000 to support this effort.
Discussions are now underway with the Rotary Club of Bendigo Sandhurst to assist with painting, installing the boxes, and helping build native bee homes.
Participants will discover that not all birds or bees nest alike — different species need different habitat features. From small hollow-dwelling parrots to larger birds like kookaburras, and from solitary native bees to social species, each requires a unique type of home.
By designing and installing a diverse range of nesting structures, participants will develop a deeper understanding of biodiversity and the vital role habitat diversity plays in conservation.
Work Begins on the Healing Garden
We’re excited to share that work is now underway on our Healing Garden — a place that will honour First Nations culture, deepen connection to Country, and offer spaces of reflection, learning and healing for all.
This culturally significant space will include:
Bunjil’s Flame – A Place for Gathering, Story & Spirit
Circle of Reflection – A contemplative space for quiet connection
Garden of Memories – Honouring Love, Loss & Legacy
Medicinal & Bush Tucker Gardens – Sharing traditional plant knowledge
Native Pollinator Habitat – Supporting bees, butterflies and birds
We’ve just broken ground on the Pollinator Garden entrance, which will be a vibrant, living corridor of flowering shrubs and groundcovers — providing year-round nectar and nesting sites for native pollinators. Purpose-built bee hotels will also feature, highlighting the essential role pollinators play in keeping our ecosystems healthy and thriving.
Wheels, Laughter & Planting Power!
We were thrilled to host the Wednesday Wobblies Bendigo at Reflections! The group kicked off their visit with a scenic 20km bike ride around the area, setting off from our site full of energy and enthusiasm.
A couple of hours (and many pedals!) later, they returned to Reflections for a well-earned BBQ lunch – and then, without missing a beat, they rolled up their sleeves and got stuck into some planting in our Healing Garden.
There was plenty of chatter, laughter, and good vibes, and we were so grateful for their help and generous spirit. We’ve already been promised a return visit – and we’re holding them to it!
Thanks again to the Wednesday Wobblies – community in motion at its best!
Until Next Time – Keep the Momentum Going
As you’ve seen, July has been a month of milestones, connection, and community spirit at Reflections at Eppalock. From our biggest Carers Lunch to the incredible contributions of La Trobe students, from exciting garden developments to our first overnight stay — it’s been a time of meaningful progress and shared purpose.
We’re especially grateful for the growing network of volunteers and partner organisations who are joining us in building something truly special. Your involvement — whether it’s planting, planning, or simply showing up — is shaping a space that supports wellbeing, learning, and belonging.
Thank you for walking with us. We can’t wait to celebrate more with you in the months ahead, especially as we approach our first birthday and the unveiling of Stage 2 of our vision.
Stay inspired, stay connected, and we’ll see you soon at Reflections.
The Dementia Alliance Team
