This is a memory jar for Stephen,
which is to last for a year, so there's 365 there.
It's been hard at times hasn't it Stephen? Stephen: Yes, too right.
Alzheimer's really takes a lot from you, but singing really gives back to you I think.
To know that other people understand what you’re going through,
or what your partner is going through and you feel accepted.
In that way it's a very supportive group, it's something we do look forward to, very much.
I'm Brian Triglone and I'm the founder and conductor of Alchemy Chorus.
Alchemy Chorus is a community choir, which is inclusive of people living with dementia, and their partner or close friend.
It's all about inclusion, it's not a choir that focuses on dementia, so we don't call ourselves a dementia choir.
It's about including people with dementia into the singing community, if you like.
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The choir together as the sound is just fabulous,
we've been there for about four years I think,
and the growth of singing like a real choir is fantastic.
We just caught up with everyone, and we missed it, we've all missed it,
we've all missed that contact because you suddenly go different ways, you don’t always see everyone.
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In the time that we haven't had choir, I've just felt as flat as anything.
I've done some gardening, but I just really felt like a lost soul,
and today I'm just so elated.
It gives me a purpose, but also it's a challenge to do little harmonies that make it sound more than just a singing group.
The numbers weren't too bad today, I would have thought 50-55.
Those that didn't come understandably were still a bit nervous about coming into public.
I'm pretty confident that it will build up to what we were, which is normally somewhere around 80 every week.
It's been five years since Paul was diagnosed officially,
the first couple of years Paul was quite stable.
But this last year has been harder for you,
a lot of memory, shorter memory especially going.
I think we've had a pretty wonderful life so far and done a lot of things together,
we know each other very well.
Although I'm probably ...
... a burden on Marlene a bit,
because I forget things so much.
It's frustrating to me and I try not to let that frustration out on her.
The singing is one way to do something together and really enjoy it.
The benefits that partners accrue from the choir are enormous, they just love it.
Because when your partner has dementia, your whole life changes.
You tend to reduce your social contacts, or they're reduced for you, unfortunately.
And you're a little embarrassed about how the person is going to appear when you go into public.
But when they come here, they know that they're amongst friends and people who have a common purpose
and I shouldn't say a common burden, but it's ... yeah,
they'll share what it's like to have someone with dementia with them.
So it's far more than just a singing group for people with dementia,
it's a community choir that embraces those with dementia.
This is a memory jar for Stephen,
made by one of our daughters, which is to last for a year so there's 365 there.
And this is memories from all of the family, from all around Australia
who have sent either photos, sayings, remembering situations that Stephen was with.
And we put that then into another jar, because we can do that and use it again at another time.
So here you are Stephen, how about taking a couple.
Who's playing Father Christmas at the Yass Showgrounds?
Dad used to do this most years.
It's been hard at times hasn't it Stephen? Stephen: Yes, too right.
It's been hard, because it's 24 hours a day.
24 hours is a long time, learning that people need to have their clothes all put out
and that they need a reminder of having showers,
so you’re everything.
We still laugh. Stephen: Too right we do.
So it's a road, and tomorrow's tomorrow,
far as I always say: today is today and tomorrow is tomorrow.
I hope the choir continues for many years,
but on the other hand, I hope that the day comes soon where there's no need for a choir like this,
that they'll find a cure for dementia.
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I don't think anybody of us knows the future,
and sometimes that can be frightening.
Also when things change so quickly,
we trust that we will be able to cope the best way we can.