The City of Melville is celebrating a decade of connection, friendship and support for people living with dementia and their carers at the Memory Cafe.
The City marked the 10th anniversary of the Melville Cafe in partnership with Westfield Booragoon, with Mayor Katy Mair and Chief Executive Officer Gail Bowman sharing a cake and cuppa with attendees as part of Dementia Action Week on Tuesday, 22 September.
The Memory Cafe provides a welcoming space for people living with dementia, carers, family members and supporters to connect with others, share experiences and enjoy a coffee together on the last Tuesday of every month.
The milestone aligns with this year's Dementia Action Week theme, It's time to talk about dementia, which encourages greater awareness, understanding and community connection for people impacted by dementia.
The Memory Cafe was established after a local couple, Keith and Wendy, approached the City of Melville seeking a place where people living with dementia could enjoy a coffee in a relaxed environment.
The initiative was supported by Alzheimer’s WA and local coffee shops at Westfield Booragoon.
This simple idea has grown into a long‑standing community initiative which continues to provide a safe, social and inclusive space for connection.
The 10-year anniversary is a wonderful reminder of the importance of creating inclusive and welcoming spaces where people can stay connected to their community.
For more information, visit https://www.melvillecity.com.au/memorycafe
Attribute the following comments to City of Melville Mayor Katy Mair:
"The City of Melville, in partnership with Westfield Booragoon, is proud to provide an ongoing, welcoming space for our community.
"The 10-year anniversary of the Memory Cafe is a significant achievement and a testament to the City's goal of facilitating a sense of community, wellbeing, social connection, and participation in our community.
"We know that when people are first diagnosed with dementia that it can be very confronting and isolating, and so maintaining social connections is a way of nurturing a sense of belonging and identity.
"It was great to help celebrate the 10-year anniversary and hear first-hand these connections continue to grow."
Image: City of Melville Chief Executive Officer Gail Bowman, Mayor Katy Mair, Wendy, who approached the City with the Memory Cafe idea, Community Development Officer – Seniors and Volunteering Philippa Aitken, Community Development Officer Veronica Clarke, Community Development Coordinator – People Deena Lazzari and Westfield Booragoon Marketing Manager Bianca Bevan.