It was easy to dismiss forgetfulness and confusion as getting older. It was hard to ignore her girlfriends when they asked her to seek medical advice after noticing how Wilma would often trail off and not finish a sentence.

Diagnosis was confronting: at 57 years old, Wilma was found to have young on-set dementia.

Then Wilma realised having dementia was not something to be ashamed about. The more she started to tell people about her dementia, the more Wilma confident in continuing to do what she loves and living her life to the fullest.

"The first six weeks I cried. I thought that was it," Wilma said.

"I've been on two big holidays, my husband and I are about to go on another one, so you can still do things. I have really good support."

A sense of humour and being open about her condition helps Wilma break a lot of barriers. She found people could be incredibly helpful and understanding, particularly when situations became stressful.

Wilma wants to share her story for education and awareness on a disease too often associated with the elderly. Before retirement, Wilma had a career working with elderly who had dementia in Ballarat Health Services' Queen Elizabeth Centre, only to realise how much more there was to the condition with her diagnosis.

The Curnow family had advice from Dementia Australia but it was in learning the story of Ballarat professional cyclist Nick Locandro that unlocked personal support.

Locandro and two friends set out to cycle from Uluru to Ballarat in September for A Ride to Remember. The mission started as a tribute to Locandro's dad Sam, who died in 2017 after a battle with aggressive younger on-set dementia.

As Locandro prepared for the lengthy journey, his focus shifted to championing the dementia friend awareness campaign and for support programs in Ballarat at Eyres House.

Meg Curnow and her sisters had taken a six-week online course to learn as much as they could about dementia and how to care for a loved one with the disease. Locandro's story introduced them to Eyres House, which offers five days a week programs, cottage respite, a carer support group and program flexibility.

For Wilma, Eyres House has offered a safe space and friendship with those of similar understanding.

"Being told Mum has dementia is a big thing. At the time, I wish when we were told of the diagnosis and were looking for support that we'd been told about Eyres House," Meg said.

"That's where we really learned you're still you...Talking to staff at Eyres House, we learned there is still just such a stigma straight away when you say dementia."

Wilma's diagnosis rocked her family, even though Meg said she and her father had their suspicions. 

Inspired by Locandro's work and Wilma's positive attitude, Meg has been spurred on to help make a difference for people living with dementia in Ballarat.

Meg has pieced together a huge day out, starting with a four-person ambrose event at Ballarat Golf Club next weekend. This will feature a gourmet barbecue on the party hole. Ballarat Coachlines will then drive everyone to The Golfers Lounge for live music, happy hour, auctions and golf games.

Support and donations from across the community has humbled Meg in her quest to raise awareness for younger on-set dementia. Money raised will go to Eyres House Ballarat and Dementia Australia.

The Curnow family chooses to focus more on quality, family time in the year since Wilma's diagnosis. They encourage anyone affected by dementia to join the event party on March 1, about 2pm.

Entry forms for golf are at The Golfers Lounge, in Wendouree and Ballarat Golf Club.

More than 3,100 Ballarat people are living with dementia.

This is projected to increase to almost 4,300 Ballarat people in the next decade and to 7,000 by 2058, according to Dementia Australia. Dementia is the second biggest cause of death in Australia.

Health experts and community champions like Nick Locandro and Meg Curnow encourage people to become a dementia friend - a 15-minute online learning module to help better understand the disease.

Being a dementia friend promote inclusiveness, patience and to know how small acts can make a big difference to someone living with dementia.

Dementia-friendly businesses in Ballarat include The Western Hotel, Hop Temple and Bank of Melbourne.

Dementia Australia's chief called for more understanding into how dementia feels at the aged care royal commission which heard this week more than half of Australia’s aged care workers have no dementia training.

Become a dementia friend at dementiafriendly.org.au.

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