Fight Dementia News 31 October, 2011

President’s Message

Dear Supporter

My heartfelt thanks to you all for your tremendous support at our Fight Dementia March on 13 October. It was a turning point in getting dementia on to the national agenda.

Five hundred people joined the march and what a sight we were in our new teal and black colours walking up the hill to Parliament House.

We heard from two very special people, Kate Swaffer and Judy Woolstencroft and on behalf of everyone at the march I extend my thanks to them both for sharing their stories with us.

We were also joined by a number of Federal Politicians including:  The Hon Mark Butler MP  Senator Concetta Fierravanti-Wells  Ms Sharon Grierson MP  The Hon Bronwyn Bishop MP  Mr Russell Broadbent MP  Mrs MP  Mr MP  Mr MP  Mr MP

The Greens again demonstrated their support that afternoon when spokesperson, Senator asked in the Senate: “Why has the government terminated the dementia initiative?”

After the march and BBQ lunch provided by Rotary, more than 200 people joined us for the “Have Your Say” session. Many of them shared their stories – trusted us to understand their deepest feelings and thoughts – and asked questions of the panel members – Professor Henry Brodaty; Sue Pieters-Hawke, National Ambassador; Glenn Rees, CEO Alzheimer’s ; Paul Gregersen, CEO Bupa Care Services and me.

I was moved by the stories that people were prepared to share with us. Now their stories that need to be shared with the rest of the community to raise awareness and understanding of our cause. I would like to thank the many organisations who were there on the day including the Australian Nurses Federation, Catholic Health Australia, Uniting Care, Bupa Care Services, Pfizer, Carers Australia, Porter Novelli and Interbrand.

My thanks also to everyone who travelled long distances to join us. There were people from every state and territory at the march. It is this kind of commitment that makes Alzheimer’s Australia strong and our voice so loud. Thank you for this.

You will all be pleased to know that the media coverage of the march reached more than 7.1 million people through radio, print and television. Kate Swaffer was also very kind in allowing the 7:30 Report film her story and journey to the march from Adelaide. Thank you Kate!

I know I speak for all my colleagues when I say that it was a very proud moment in the life of our organisation.

This is the first step in the fight. Dementia is not going to go away and neither are we. We need all of you to continue to share your stories, to write to your Federal Politicians and to encourage others to sign up as champions.

Through the campaign website and this newsletter we will keep you informed of new developments and upcoming activities.

As I said at the march, it is time for us to take off the velvet glove and put on the iron fist.

My very best wishes to you all.

Ita Buttrose AO, OBE President, Alzheimer’s Australia

March Day!

The Fight Dementia March saw many supporters from people with dementia, their families and carers as well as care workers, doctors, nurses and everyone in between join the fight.

On the day Alzheimer’s Australia also released two new reports. The first, Dementia Across Australia: 2011-2050 was prepared by Deloitte Access Economics and provides updated prevalence data by state and territory, nationally and by Commonwealth Electoral Divisions. This report help us secure the media coverage not only in Canberra by around the nation with many articles appearing in regional newspapers and on local radio stations. To download a copy of the report access the following link Dementia Across Australia 2011-2050.

The second report, National Strategies to Address Dementia, prepared by Alzheimer’s Australia provides an overview of a range of approaches that a selection of countries have taken to address dementia. It is not a comprehensive review of all national strategies and is based on readily available information. To download a copy of the report access the following link National Strategies to Address Dementia.

Alzheimer’s Australia would like to thank everyone who attended the march. We could not have done it without your support and the support from other organisations and all of the interstate staff members. We would also like to thank Porter Novelli for their continued support and work on the campaign leading up to and on the day of the march and beyond.

Check out our new look!

For the past 18 months Alzheimer’s Australia has been working with Interbrand Sydney to re-brand the organisation. We felt it was time to take dementia to the community to raise awareness and understanding. We feel that the new branding including the new colour and our new logos with different messages will create a national movement not just another logo change. Over this period we have consulted staff, members and supporters through different ways and we hope that you will embrace the new look with us.

What next?

We need to continue to engage the community and build awareness of the campaign. Please keep encouraging your friends, family and colleagues to support the campaign.

What can they do?

Sign up as a Dementia Champion on the new look website: http://campaign.fightdementia.org.au/

Sign the new online petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/fight-dementia

Featured Champions

New Federal Politician Champions

We now have 29 Federal Politicians signed up as Dementia Champions. Our new Champions include:

 Senator David Bushby, Senator for Tasmania  Senator , Senator for  Deb O’Neill, MP, Federal Member for Robertson, NSW  The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Federal Member for Hunter, NSW  Senator Alan Eggleston, Senator for Western Australia  Melissa Parke MP, Federal Member for Fremantle, WA  MP, Federal Member for Mitchell, NSW  Mark Coulton, MP, Federal Member for Parkes, NSW  Senator Rachel Siewert, Senator for WA  MP, Federal Member for Kooyong, VIC  Senator Claire Moore, Senator for Queensland  Janelle Saffin MP, Federal Member for Page, NSW  Karen Andrews MP, Federal Member for McPherson, QLD  The Hon Judi Moylan MP, Federal Member for Pearce, WA  Senator Chris Back, Senator for Western Australia  Kelvin Thomson, MP, Federal Member for Wills, VIC  Andrew Leigh, MP, Federal Member for Fraser, ACT  Senator , Senator for Tasmania

This month’s featured Champions

Yaroslaw, Wishart, Qld I am a carer for my wife Margaret who has been diagnosed with Vascular Dementia 4 years ago. I find it very stressful seeing my love one trying to cope with her progressive illness and struggling to maintain some sort of independence. Our only hope is that the Government provides some sort of help.

Kathy, Hallett Cove, SA To support the many people with dementia and their families. I believe strongly that no matter what, attention needs to be given to improving the lives and care of people with dementia to enable them to live as well as possible for as long as possible.

Contact

For further information on the campaign please visit the campaign website at http://campaign.fightdementia.org.au/ or email [email protected].

Images of the Fight Dementia March have been provided by Amy Dobos and Thea McGrath.

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