Written by Felicity Palmateer
Losing my mum to dementia when she was just 52 changed everything. I was thousands of kilometres from home, filming Survivor in outback Australia, when I got the news that she’d passed away. I remember feeling completely powerless, disconnected from my family, my home and the chance to say goodbye. It will always be one of the most defining moments of my life.
Mum had been diagnosed six years earlier with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a rare and aggressive form of the disease. Watching her decline was like losing someone in slow motion. Dementia doesn’t just take memories; it takes loved ones away before they’re really gone.
Before she got sick, Mum was my biggest supporter. She loved art, creativity and the beach. Some of my earliest memories are of her taking my brothers and me down to the beach on those perfect Western Australian mornings.
When her behaviour began to change, we thought it might just be stress. She became quieter, more withdrawn. It wasn’t until a relative, a speech pathologist, noticed changes in her speech that we realised something deeper was wrong. The diagnosis was a shock. Mum was so young. Then we learned her FTD was genetic, which now means I have a 50% chance of carrying the same gene.
Through it all, my Grandma was our rock. She cared for Mum full-time, just as she had for her husband and her own mother before that. She’s one of the most selfless people I know. When I’m home in WA, sitting down for a chat with my grandma over a cup of tea, I cherish the simple, everyday moments I wish I could still share with Mum.
Why We Need to Talk About Dementia
Dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia, and yet it’s something we still don’t talk about enough. My mum was diagnosed in her 40s. We did talk about it as a family, but we didn’t speak about it openly with others. There’s a lot of stigma and misunderstanding around dementia, especially when it affects someone young. People didn’t know what to say or how to respond. That lack of awareness and compassion isolates families, slows progress, and stops people from getting help early.
That’s why initiatives like Wipeout Dementia matter so much. They bring people together, families, carers, researchers and supporters to raise awareness and fund vital research at UNSW’s Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing (CHeBA). It’s about more than just money; it’s about connection, education and hope.
Exercise and movement are proving to play a huge role in reducing risk and slowing the severity of dementia. That’s part of what makes Wipeout Dementia’s 10-year anniversary event at URBNSURF so special. It’s not just a tag-team surf comp; it’s a celebration of what happens when people come together to make change.
Turning Grief into Purpose
For me, being an Ambassador and taking part is deeply personal. It’s a reminder of what matters, using what I love to contribute to something bigger than myself. Losing Mum so young changed the way I look at everything. I say yes more. I don’t waste time on things that don’t count. I try to live fully, because I know how fragile life can be.
Wipeout Dementia isn’t just about fundraising for a better future; it’s about building awareness, community and change right now. We need to learn, to talk, and to help shift the way society understands this disease. The more we normalise these conversations, the more support and empathy we create for the people living with dementia.
Wipeout Dementia began as a small community initiative and has grown into one of Sydney’s most distinctive corporate social impact campaigns, uniting industries with professional athletes and researchers. This year’s 10-year anniversary event, held in partnership with URBNSURF Sydney, brings together 72 corporate surfers and a powerhouse ambassador lineup of professional surfers including Owen Wright, Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew AM, Mark “Occy” Occhilupo and Felicity Palmateer.
The event is proudly supported by Morgans, Versatile, Winten, Avenor, AWM, Essence Project Management, SHAPE Australia, Sense Projects, Liberty Capital Markets, Wentworth and Haigs Builder Brokers.
Every dollar goes to research – donate here.
