Our story

A decade of bigger hearts.

Bigger Hearts began in 2016, inspired by two women — Edie Mayhew and Anne Tudor — whose response to dementia made their hearts bigger, and ours along with them.

Edie Mayhew & Anne Tudor

The story behind the name

Edie Mayhew shares her vision for a dementia-friendly Ballarat. A new video with Anne Tudor — honouring Edie's legacy and the ten years that followed — will be added soon.

In August 2016, Anne Tudor and her partner Edie Mayhew launched the Bigger Hearts Dementia Friendly Ballarat campaign. Edie had been diagnosed with younger-onset dementia, and the two of them described their response to living with it as having made their hearts bigger. The phrase became the name. The name became a movement.

They weren't alone. They were supported by Dr Catherine Barrett of Celebrate Ageing, the City of Ballarat, Dementia Australia, Ballarat North Community House and Carers Respite. Together they began to imagine a different kind of community — one where people living with dementia were not hidden, not pitied, not separated, but included.

"We were inspired to share with the community about the real challenges of living with dementia and at the same time try to find the positive in each situation. We are calling on influential and everyday members of our community to join us in establishing a Local Dementia Alliance which will work towards creating a dementia-friendly Ballarat." Edie Mayhew, 2016

Edie Mayhew and Anne Tudor standing together with their dementia assistance dog. Edie wears a blue shirt and Anne a purple tie-dye dress. — Edie Mayhew and Anne Tudor with their dementia assistance dog — the heart of where Bigger Hearts began.

Edie spoke openly. She shared her experience with anyone who would listen — and slowly, more and more people did. Posters went up around Ballarat. Three hundred postcards were filled in by community members, each describing their own vision for a dementia-friendly town. Conversations happened over cups of tea at Tuesdays at the Turret. Films were made. A two-day symposium ran at the Mechanics' Institute on Valentine's Day.

In July 2017, the Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance met for the first time in the Trench Room at the City of Ballarat. People living with dementia, healthcare professionals, carers, neighbours, and friends — they all joined. Each one shaped what Bigger Hearts would become.

Edie has since passed away, but her vision continues to guide the work. Anne carries that legacy forward as one of the founding voices of Bigger Hearts, alongside a growing alliance of committee members, volunteers, partners and people living with dementia who continue to co-design everything we do.

In 2023, the organisation was formally incorporated as Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance Ballarat Incorporated. In 2026 we celebrate ten years of community-led work toward a more dementia-friendly Ballarat.

The hearts keep getting bigger.

What guides us

Mission, vision, values

Mission

To improve the quality of life of people living with dementia, their family, friends and carers in the greater Ballarat area, through education, advocacy, creative connection and active contribution.

Vision

A Ballarat community where people affected by dementia belong, contribute and connect — where dementia is part of community life, not separate from it.

Values

Dignity. Inclusion. Community-led co-design. Creativity as connection. Honesty about dementia, without stigma. Local action, with national and regional partnerships.

A decade of community

How Bigger Hearts grew

2016
Bigger Hearts begins

August 2016: Anne Tudor and Edie Mayhew launch the Bigger Hearts Dementia Friendly Ballarat campaign, supported by Dr Catherine Barrett, the City of Ballarat, Dementia Australia, Ballarat North Community House and Carers Respite.
2017
The Alliance forms

July 2017: The Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance meets for the first time in the Trench Room, City of Ballarat. People with lived experience of dementia, healthcare professionals and community members join together.
2021
Sensory Trail opens

June 2021: Australia's first dementia-friendly forest and sensory trail opens at Woowookarung Regional Park, in partnership with Parks Victoria. Co-designed by people living with dementia and their care partners.
2023
Incorporated as a charity

March 2023: Bigger Hearts is formally incorporated as Bigger Hearts Dementia Alliance Ballarat Incorporated, an Australian not-for-profit registered in Victoria.
2026
Ten years of bigger hearts

A year of celebration. Art-Escape launches as our newest creative program. We mark a decade of community-led work toward a more dementia-friendly Ballarat — and we keep going.

The early years

Projects that shaped us

The work of Bigger Hearts grew through many smaller projects, each one led by community members willing to imagine something new.

Bigger Hearts Hubs

Posters went up across Ballarat. Community members filled in blank postcards with their visions for a dementia-friendly Ballarat. Over 300 cards were completed. Dr Catherine Barrett analysed the responses in a community report.

Tuesdays at the Turret

For six weeks, community members met weekly for a chat. They talked about dementia, shared life experiences, and had many laughs together.

The Bigger Hearts Exchange

A creative project by filmmaker Andrew Ferguson. The film documented six people living with dementia exchanging ideas with six community members over cups of tea. It has since been used as a training video for first responders.

Museum of Love

A two-day symposium held on Valentine's Day at the Ballarat Mechanics' Institute, in partnership with Dr Catherine Barrett's Celebrate Ageing. Many projects came from it — including "Letters of Love" and "Dementia and 100 Stories" — challenging traditional views of dementia.

Pulse of My Heart & Mr Velvet Ears

A series of films tracing Edie's journey with dementia. The final film, Mr Velvet Ears, follows Anne and Edie's decision to access residential aged care — told through the eyes of Mr Velvet Ears, their dementia assistance dog.

Woowookarung Dementia Friendly Forest & Sensory Trail

Australia's first dementia-friendly forest trail, opened in 2021 in partnership with Parks Victoria. Co-designed by people living with dementia, care partners and community members. Read more →

With thanks

None of this is done alone

Bigger Hearts is the work of many hands and many hearts. Our community has been built and strengthened by the generosity of organisations and individuals across Ballarat and beyond.

Dementia Australia Parks Victoria City of Ballarat Celebrate Ageing Ballarat North Community House Carers Respite Friends of Canadian Corridor Ferguson Films CDC Victoria CMV Truck & Bus Volvo Findex PO Box Design

Be part of the next decade

The work continues — and there's a place for you

Whether you'd like to join a program, volunteer, donate, partner with us, or simply learn more — we'd love to hear from you.

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