Bay FM’s Untangling the Yarn is a new audio documentary series exploring the personal stories of people living with dementia and other memory loss conditions, as they share treasure memories and talk about what their lives are like now.
Featuring interviews with people at the Byron Respite Care Service centre in Brunswick Heads on Bundjalung Country – the 12-part series explores how locals at the centre engage with their community and find joy in their day-to-day lives, while living with loss of memory or other cognitive function(s). Often they are asked to reflect on their lives now and whether they have any advice for younger people about how to live long and fulfilling lives.
‘Many have valuable stories to share that need to be documented, including personal histories and stories about their community and heritage, before these are lost’ shares the series’ producer and presenter Dione Green from Bay FM’s Make a Change show.
With the support of Byron Shire Respite Service, carers and loved ones have also been included in the series which provides educational information from professionals in the respite sector, as well as tips for those experiencing or are close to someone experiencing memory loss. ‘Things like new research, new breakthroughs in dementia treatment, things that can slow the progression of the condition and tips for people out there who may not have access to respite services,’ explains Dione.
The series has also been particularly poignant for the Bay FM community in light of the episode on one of the station’s longstanding presenters, Phil Hurst, who has been involved with community radio for decades despite his own memory loss condition.
‘I think the series has really got people thinking and talking openly about dementia in a way they might not have done previously. And I hope it might have taken away some of the fear people have about potentially developing dementia themselves in the future – I know it has for me’, shares Dione.
Bay FM were a recipient of CBF’s Round 2 Content Grant 2022/23. CBF funding supported recording, editing and production costs, recording equipment, general administration, publicity and original music including the series’ theme song written by Mullumbimby singer-songwriter, Chris Mallory.
Untangling the Yarn is airing on Bay FM’s Make a Change program and can also be streamed on Bay FM 99.9’s Soundcloud.
[Photo: ‘Untangling the Yarn’ Producer & Bay FM presenter Dione Green with Bay FM presenter Phil Hurst & Respite Support Worker Ruth Pellen]