In 2024, the inaugural Forget Me Not Ball raised an incredible $64,000, establishing the Forget Me Not Geelong Dementia Fund at the Barwon Health Foundation. Every cent raised goes directly to supporting dementia research and clinical trials in Geelong, in partnership with Barwon Health and Deakin University.
That number isn’t just a total; it’s a tribute. It represents the families who have come together in honour, the friends who’ve danced and donated in memory, and a community that refuses to let this issue fade into the background. Every ticket bought, every bid placed, every t-shirt purchased, every dollar given — it all speaks to a shared belief: that people living with dementia deserve more. More support. More understanding. More hope.
Dementia affects hundreds of thousands of Australians right now — and with that number expected to skyrocket in coming decades, we can’t afford to look away. That’s why fundraising efforts like this matter. They don’t just fund services. They fund dignity. They fund progress.
Every cent raised through the Forget Me Not Ball is put to work — driving research, supporting carers, educating communities, and advocating for lasting change. Below, you’ll find where those funds go and the impact they create:
So far, the Fund has made possible:
A $30,000 team-based grant for multi-disciplinary dementia research at Barwon Health, and a $15,000 individual grant supporting Masters-level, PhD, or trainee researchers working in partnership with Barwon Health. The projects will be announced at the 2025 Ball.
Funds are also used to develop campaigns, resources, and training to increase understanding of dementia across care facilities, and the broader public health sector to improve patient and family care.
Helping people living with dementia and their carers find and access counselling, helplines, respite programs, and community support in and around the Geelong and Western Victorian region.
Supporting researchers and academics to secure better funding to enable aged care reform, and support for future generations facing dementia.
Your generosity helps fund vital programs, support services, and innovative care at Barwon Health — ensuring dignity, comfort, and hope for patients and their families.
To learn more, visit:
barwonhealthfoundation.org.au
If you want to reach out to the Forget Me Not Committee, we’d love to hear from you. Let us know if you’re looking for resources, needing help to fund a support group or keen to support our Ball. We’re not professionals, but we’re a group of passionate individuals who know the dementia path too well.
