"The trees are asking how we are" were Edie Mayhew's words when partner Anne Tudor first took her to the site of what would become Australia's first dementia-friendly forest sensory trail.
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For more than three years, steps towards the inclusive trail have been taking shape in Woowookarung Regional Park.
It is a project led by Ms Mayhew and Ms Tudor that drew in the city's dementia network, Parks Victoria, Friends of Canadian Corridor and school and community groups for planning, caring for seedlings and planting.
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An emotional Ms Tudor and Buninyong MP Michaela Settle officially opened the community trail on Friday morning, one year after Edie's death.
Edie's tree quote is inscribed on a rustic frame, one of the many sculptures and surprises people can find embedded in bushland as they wander.
For Ms Tudor, the trails keeps Edie's memory alive but she also wanted it to be a space for others to come and explore, retreat and reflect.
"Every so often there are one or two stones for people to sit on and reflect. A stone circle is my favourite feature as a meeting place," Ms Tudor said.
"We can do Tai-chi, yoga and concerts there. In my mind, I can see a chamber orchestra playing in late afternoon towards the early evening.
"...We want people to think differently about coming to the bush and actually take account of the fact there are so many beautiful birds, native animals, flora and fauna here. It's just an amazing place."
The 1.8-kilometre trail is wide enough for two wheelchairs and a dog, according to Ms Tudor, and is set to be included in a proposed 10,000-step trail network in the park.
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Dementia Australia chief Maree McCabe said everything about the trail was special and innovative to inform community through "living colour".
Ms McCabe hope the safe and inclusive space would inspire similar meaningful dementia-friendly projects tailored to needs in other communities, but also to keep breaking down the stigma of dementia.
"There are so many myths about dementia - one of the mains ones is dementia only affects old people and is just a bit of memory loss - but the impacts are profound," Ms McCabe said. "Dementia is almost an invisible disease and what people can't see there is often a fear. This trail ensures nothing and nobody is left out."
Dementia is almost an invisible disease and what people can't see there is often a fear. This trail ensures nothing and nobody is left out.
- Maree McCabe, Dementia Australia chief executive
Ms Settle has followed the trail's progress in other roles before joining parliament.
She said it was incredible to have a Ballarat community effort create one of the first dementia-friendly designed trails in the world.
"Anne is just such an extraordinary human-being, as was Edie," Ms Settle said. "This trail is a prime example of how parks can really play important roles in connecting and supporting the health and well-being of all members of the community."
Ms Tudor said her wife was never one to waste words. Her likely response would have been a big smile, eyes bright with delight, and saying something like, "it's really good".
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