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March 2025 – Connect Tahi
Kia ora and welcome to our first pānui of 2025.
In this edition we reflect on some incredible milestones and look ahead to exciting opportunities for our Dementia Wellington community including our growing Staying Active programme and Learning About Mate Wareware Opportunities.
Our 2025 Reimagining Dementia Symposium was a huge success, we challenged traditional narratives of mate wareware and embraced creativity, play, and innovation. It was a fantastic day of learning and sharing, with real-time audience participation and powerful lived experiences.
And speaking of events, don’t miss out on our special fundraising Steam train journey through the Manawatū Gorge on 11 May—a unique experience and a great way to support Dementia Wellington.
We also celebrate two major anniversaries—Sheena Farquhar’s 11 years of dedicated service and Dementia Wellington’s 40th birthday! It’s a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come and the people who have shaped our journey.
Thank you for being part of our whānau. Your support and involvement make all the difference.
Ngā mihi mahana
Anne Schumacher, Chief Executive
2025 Reimagining Dementia Symposium
Mama Mate and Marcia Skinnon – DW Kaitohutohu
Attendees participating
On the 27 February we hosted the Reimagining Dementia Symposium at Te Papa. With 110 people in total attending, our goal was to encourage people to move away from the tragedy narrative of mate wareware and to experience mate wareware in a new, more positive light. We invited the audience to re-imagine mate wareware and to use play and innovation to break us out of the usual way of holding a symposium and sharing our stories. For the first time we used Slido (see the attendee greetings below), that is an online tool that enables audience participation to be shared in real time throughout the day, thinking outside the square and doing things differently can be fun!
In the afternoon session we heard from a variety of speakers including members of the Young Onset Dementia programme sharing their lived experiences of mate wareware.
Suzie sharing
Pat sharing
Joe sharing
Members of the Young Onset panel during the afternoon session
A huge thank you to the Dementia Wellington admin team (Rohan and Kristen) for their exceptional work in organising the symposium.
A full report of the day, including the realtime comments gathered using Slido can be found here
Two anniversaries to celebrate
Sheena Farquhar – our longest serving team member.
Sheena Farquhar has been with Dementia Wellington for 11 years – we thought we were celebrating 10 years but on further investigation it turns out to be 11! Sheena was our Kāpiti Dementia Advisor before taking on the role of Clinical Lead/Educator in late 2023.
Sheena said “As the longest standing member of this incredible team, I’ve had the privilege to be involved in the significant changes that have shaped Dementia Wellington into what it is today. Each year has brought growth, progress, and most importantly, a heightened recognition of our professional commitment to all our clients. It’s been an honour to be part of this journey, and I’m excited for the future we’ll continue to build together.”
Sheena is compassionate and always puts the clients’ wellbeing at the heart of any decision making. We are indebted to Sheena not only for her strong clinical background but also her dedication to systems and processes – this means we have consistent services across the region and the Dementia Advisors are better supported to do their mahi. Thank you, Sheena!
Sheena Farquhar cutting the 40th birthday cake
The Dementia Wellington team with Nicola Pauling (centre left) and Mary Fridley (centre right)
We marked Dementia Wellington’s 40th birthday at the symposium with a cake and the traditional song. Dementia Wellington started off as ADARDs in 1985, and we have included and excerpt from the very first newsletter –written with a typewriter – that outlines why the organisation was formed and its purpose. The only significant change over the years is that originally the service was for carers only, now we provide support for people with mate wareware as well as their care partners and whānau.
The first ADARDS newsletter in 1985
An eftpos machine and QR codes to make supporting DW easier
One of the strategic goals for 2025 is to shore up our financial sustainability. Whilst we do have funding from Health NZ/Te Whatu Ora, we are heavily reliant on fundraising activities to make up the shortfall to continue to provide all our services. We know that for many people, making a donation in these times can be difficult so please do not feel pressured and only give if you are able. Here is our budget to give an idea of our targets for 2025.
In 2025 we are budgeting for 6% ($52k) of our income to come from individual donations – these include, regular givers, in memorium donations and one-off donations. We are also aiming to raise $40k from fundraising this year.
Our team used to take collection boxes to our Supporter groups and Education sessions. The koha collected there contributed to the costs of venue hire, tea and biscuits. To make it easier to contribute, we now have an eftpos machine that Sheena will take to education sessions. The Dementia Advisors will have our QR Code available so you can use your phone camera to take you directly to the online donations page.
Of course, an even easier way is to set up a regular payment – a small regular payment can be easier to manage financially, and it takes the hassle out of giving.
Thank you for your support, it all counts, and we do appreciate it very much.
All aboard for a memorable journey in support of Dementia Wellington!
Sunday, 11th May 2025 – Don’t miss this extraordinary steam & diesel-powered excursion with Steam Incorporated, all in support of Dementia Wellington.
Departing from Wellington, Porirua, Paraparaumu, Waikanae, Otaki, Levin, and Palmerston North, we’re heading to Woodville—but not before experiencing the breathtaking Manawatū Gorge like never before! Once a vital road link, now closed to traffic since 2017, this historic route can only be seen by rail, offering an exclusive look at the dramatic slips that reshaped the landscape.
Upon arrival in Woodville, step back in time at the beautifully restored 1960s-era station, explore the town, and soak in the vintage railway charm while our train is prepared for the return journey.
At the time of writing 130 tickets have already been snapped up, so don’t delay to get your seats booked. More information about the trip and to book is here
https://steaminc.org.nz/book-train-trip/dementia-wellington-heartland-flyer/
Staying Active
Thanks to grants from the Bupa Foundation, Hutt City Council, and Upper Hutt City Council, we have been able to fund a part time position to facilitate our Staying Active programme. Keeping socially active is important for overall wellbeing and enjoyment of life, particularly for people in the early stages of mate wareware.
Ray Tuffin is our new Community Activities Coordinator. He can be contacted at activities@dementiawellington.org.nz
To see what activities are available check out our website, https://dementia.nz/wellington/staying-active/ We will keep updating the list as Ray connects with more dementia friendly activities.
In addition to these regular activities, we invite you to join us for a monthly ‘Staying Active’ dementia-friendly outing. Supporters are welcome to attend as well. All participants should be able to travel independently and be physically capable.
Staying Active March event: BYO BBQ Picnic Friday 28 March 11am-2pm, Marine Gardens, Raumati Beach RSVP or for more information, contact Ray Tuffin, Community Activities Coordinator, at activities@dementiawellington.org.nz.
Learning about mate wareware/dementia 2025
Dementia Wellington runs regular ‘Let’s Talk about Dementia‘ seminars around the Wellington region. These consist of four weekly sessions lasting 2.5 hours that are led by Sheena Farquhar, our Educator. Many topics are covered including understanding changes in behaviour and staying engaged and connected.
You can attend a session in any location across the Wellington Region.
How are we doing?
Can you help us improve our services?
We are keen to hear:
– what would you like more of?
– how are we doing?
– what can we do better?
The easiest way to provide feedback by using this very short form, it will only take a couple to minutes to complete https://forms.office.com/r/5Ex9XY2137, and remember, if you want a response from us you will need to enter your name and contact details.
Alternatively, feel free to email me directly anne@dementiawellington.org.nz.
I will look forward to hearing from you and thank you in advance for your feedback and suggestions.
