Thirty-nine participants, alongside four Volunteer Care Friends and two GreenConnect staff members, gathered at The Cottage on what felt like a Far North Queensland summer morning – warm, humid and stormy.

Sixty-four GreenConnect Dementia Respite participants, volunteer care friends, Mildura Men’s Shed volunteers and clients, along with key community partners, recently gathered at the Gol Gol Hotel NSW on the banks of the Mighty Murray River to celebrate the end of a wonderful year of GreenConnect Dementia activities, connection, and friendship.

A joyful Christmas lunch marked the end of another fantastic year for the Bendigo GreenConnect group. In 2025, the Bendigo group has grown to more than 50 participants, and the Christmas gathering was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate and reflect on the support and friendships formed through GreenConnect.

A number of our GreenConnect carers recently attended an EDIE session, hosted by Dementia Australia. EDIE sessions utilise virtual reality to allow carers a greater understanding of what it’s like to live with dementia.

On the 11th day of the 11th month, GreenConnect Mildura participants enjoyed a memorable guided bus trip to Hattah National Park. Supported by Care Friend Trish, new staff member Julie, and tour operators Peter and Jeanie, the group set off from the Mildura Wharf under cool but gloriously sunny skies, ready to immerse themselves in nature.

On a mild late-spring morning, 21 participants from the GreenConnect Dementia Respite Project gathered at The Cottage in Mildura for a relaxed morning tea. They were joined by three dedicated care friends and the Mildura Respite Care Coordinator, Kaye Matthews.

The beautiful Bendigo Botanic Gardens played host to GreenConnect participants for our September morning tea.  Our group has grown substantially and while we were sad to say goodbye to Peppergreen Farm, our move to Omari café at the Botanic Gardens has provided an inclusive and comfortable space to create new connections.

With rain forecast for 3pm, GreenConnect Mildura participants cheerfully set off on a day trip through the Millewa farming region, visiting Werrimull before heading to Lock 9 for a riverside lunch. Our experienced Murray Offroad guides greeted us at the Mildura Wharf with a comfortable 25-seater bus, having already kindly picked up two participants from home—both no longer able to drive.

Under a gloriously cloudless winter sky, Green Connect Mildura participants recently enjoyed a memorable off-road bus tour, taking in the spectacular almond blossoms and sharing a riverside lunch on the banks of the Murray River.

“As the project continues to grow, it’s been heartening to see the way our community and sector partners have embraced GreenConnect,” says Catherine Hyett, GreenConnect Project Manager. “It shows there’s a strong need for more flexible, community-based support options.”

Participants of GreenConnect Dementia Respite gathered mid-winter for a morning of connections, information sharing and good company over morning tea.

GreenConnect Bendigo, coordinated by Heathcote Health’s Jade Field, was pleased to welcome several new participants for connection and companionship to our July morning tea at Peppergreen Farm.

GreenConnect Mildura participants recently had the opportunity to undertake a trip to the Murray River with a local off-road bus tour operator.

In April 2025, Dementia Alliance (formerly Heathcote Dementia Alliance) formally resigned from the GreenConnect Dementia Respite Consortium. Their involvement in the project has been integral, helping to shape the initiative during its early stages.

A smaller group of GreenConnect Dementia respite participants met on the Tuesday after Easter, to enjoy a morning of friendship, morning tea and to observe the passing river traffic.

A new location for the GreenConnect Dementia respite morning tea activity was held at the Mildura Rural City Council (MRCC) owned venue known as “The Cottage“. Set in the Mildura Station Homestead precinct, within a picturesque and tranquil location, on the banks of the Murray River, shaded by river redgums and Native Belah trees.

As the GreenConnect Dementia Respite project embarks on its next phase, we’re delighted to welcome Catherine Hyett as our new Project Manager. With over a decade of experience in nursing and community aged care – particularly in dementia care and respite services – Catherine brings valuable expertise and a strong commitment to supporting people living with dementia and their carers.

The GreenConnect Dementia Respite project has grown into a vital initiative for the Loddon-Mallee thanks to the dedication of a committed team and the leadership of Sandra Slatter, our founding Project Manager.

Bendigo GreenConnect participants enjoyed a delicious morning tea and a leisurely stroll through the seasonal gardens at Peppergreen Farm. With new faces warmly welcomed, conversations flowed over scones and fresh produce, sharing gardening tips for autumn. A relaxed and sensory-rich morning in a beautiful setting!

A wonderful morning of friendship, laughter, and shared experiences was enjoyed at Walkers Place growAbility Nursery, as GreenConnect participants came together for their first gathering of 2025. With delicious morning tea, warm conversations, and valuable support from Dementia Australia, the event was both informative and uplifting.