Raising awareness for dementia with ‘rock drop’

Colourful rocks were placed on the shared pathway between the Violet Street bridge and Cameron Park, all to raise awareness for dementia.

The rock drop, as it was called, was held as part of Dementia Awareness Month and Dementia Action Week.

Organised by the Narrabri Dementia Friendly Town Committee, the campaign was aimed at raising awareness and challenging the stigma that surrounds Alzheimer related dementia.

The committee’s chair, Kylie Finlay, said the group is dedicated to promoting dementia awareness and creating dementia friendly communities.

“In the past we have held movie nights and morning teas, and we were hoping to run a Memory Walk in Narrabri, however with COVID-19 restrictions we are very limited to community activities,” she said.

This led the committee to embark on its rock drop project.

“Rock drops are fast becoming a new phenomomen which I found on Facebook,” she said.

“The concept was people can paint or decorate the rocks in whatever pattern or design they like, they place a message on the bottom to create awareness.”

Joining in on the awareness raising project were residents of Whiddon’s two Narrabri facilities – Robert Young and Jessie Hunt – and local children.

“We try to include the community,” Mrs Finlay said of the group’s activities.

“Walking is one of the things you can do to modify your risk to dementia.

“All of the things you do to keep your heart healthy also keep your brain healthy.”