Vic: Hazel Hawke's granddaughter launches school kit

AAP General News (Australia)
04-13-2007
Vic: Hazel Hawke's granddaughter launches school kit

By Shelley Markham

MELBOURNE, April 13 AAP - Hazel Hawke's granddaughter says young people can play an
important role in the care and lives of those who develop Alzheimer's disease, and should
not be locked out of the process.

Sophie Pieters-Hawke, 22, was in Melbourne today to launch a kit developed by Alzheimer's
Australia Victoria to help school children understand ageing and dementia.

Hazel Hawke, ex-wife of former prime minister Bob Hawke, revealed in 2003 she had Alzheimer's
disease.

Ms Pieters-Hawke, an honours degree social geography student at Sydney University,
said the impact of dementia and, in particular Alzheimer's, were not limited to those
people who were diagnosed with it.

"It is like a ripple effect that spreads out to family and friends, including children
and young people," Ms Pieters-Hawke said.

"Younger children may not know what is going on, only that mum and dad are upset and
granddad doesn't play with them like he used to.

"There is already enough stigma that surrounds dementia, let us not be ashamed or secretive
about the grief it can cause.

"Young people can play an important role in the care and lives of those who are ageing
and changing.

"Watching a family member or loved one progress through the different stages (of dementia)
can be a trying, upsetting and challenging time, but can also be full of special moments,
laughter and love."

She recalled one of her favourite, and often repetitive, conversations with her grandmother
Hazel.

"One of my personal favourites is when she looks me in the face and says: `Gosh aren't
you a looker'.

"And I say: `Well, I've got good genes', and this ends up with us both giggling and cuddling."

Alzheimer's Australia Victoria executive director Lynette Moore said more than 1,000
new cases of dementia were diagnosed across the country each week.

Ms Moore said 220,000 people in Australia had dementia.

"Young people want to understand what's happening when a member of their family has
dementia," she said.

Ms Moore said there were fact sheets aimed at adults, but virtually no material available
for primary and secondary school children.

The kit, which contained fact and activity sheets, along with story books about dementia,
would fill that gap, she said.

"This kit introduces them to dementia in a sensitive way, helping them with the facts
about ageing and dementia and, most importantly, how they can still relate to and enjoy
the company of a family member or close friend with dementia."

The kit was trialled in three Melbourne schools - Methodist Ladies College, Bentleigh
West primary school and Roberts Mc Cubbin primary school.

Alzheimer's Australia Victoria said it would approach schools from next week about
distributing the kits statewide.

AAP sam/ce/mss/cdh

KEYWORD: ALZHEIMERS

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