Our Story

How it Started

How it

Started

It all began with a series of somber conversations—too frequent, and sadly all too familiar.

In late 2023, a group of Geelong locals found themselves quietly connecting over a shared reality: someone they loved was living with, or had been lost to, dementia. These conversations, though informal, revealed a common experience that brought ten strangers together.

What followed was a thoughtful collaboration. With diverse skills and a shared purpose, the committee came together to create the Forget Me Not Ball—an event dedicated to raising funds for dementia research and increasing awareness within the broader community.

Above all, the goal is to stand with others affected by dementia, and to ensure the stories of their loved ones are honoured, remembered, and never forgotten.

Who Started it

Who

Started it

The Ball was born from the hearts of a small group of young Geelong locals — friends who had each watched dementia reshape someone they loved.

They weren’t medical experts. They weren’t millionaires. They were designers, carers, musicians, baristas — everyday people who had sat by hospital beds, repeated the same conversation for the third time in an hour, and grieved while the person was still alive.

They started the Forget Me Not Ball not because it was easy — but because someone had to.

United by memory and loss, they built something grassroots. A rebellion against silence. A love letter to those who forget. A promise that we won’t.

2024

Gallery

This Year's Ball:
A Baz Luhrmann Romeo + Juliet Affair

Step into a world where passion burns bright and love defies fate — the Forget Me Not Ball 2025 brings the iconic energy of Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet to life.

This year, the stage is set for a night of star-crossed glamour, cinematic romance, and rebellious spirit. Inspired by the dazzling, modern retelling of Shakespeare’s classic tale, the Ball invites guests to dress in bold reds, shimmering golds, and theatrical flair — where every moment feels like a scene from a timeless love story.

But beneath the glitter and drama lies a deeper purpose: to honour those touched by dementia, to raise vital funds for research and care, and to remind us all that love — like memory — is worth fighting for.

Join us for a night where hearts beat loud, costumes speak volumes, and every dance is a tribute to the enduring power of connection.