Pulse of My Heart
Pulse of my Heart, or A chuisle mo chroi', is an Irish Gaelic expression meaning 'my darling, my love'. This collection involves a series of films documenting the experiences of Edie Mayhew and her married partner Anne Tudor OAM as they live with dementia. Each film has takes a unique approach and leads to the development of an educational resource. The films are:
In the section below we include more information about the resources, launches and film reviews.
Header photo (c) Lisa White, The Social Photographer.
- Mr Velvet Ears (2019): documents the difficult decision to access residential aged care services for Edie. Film told through the eyes of Mr Velvet Ears, Edie and Anne's Dementia Assist dog. Educational resource available, see below.
- The Circle of Love (2017): Edie and Anne host a [re]commitment ceremony to celebrate their 33 year relationship. The Ceremony was hosted during the Marriage Equality postal vote and includes reflections on the importance of love
- Our Hearts Are Bigger (2016): Edie and Anne wrote each other a love letter every day for a week. They then opened their letters and read them on film. Educational resource coming soon.
- A day in the life of Edie (2015). Series of photographs and audit produced by Catherine Barrett for Val's Cafe
In the section below we include more information about the resources, launches and film reviews.
Header photo (c) Lisa White, The Social Photographer.
Resources
The Pulse of My Heart resources have been developed for service providers, carers, people living with dementia and their families. Each resource can be viewed as an individual or used by a Facilitator to host a workshop or session for services and groups. The resources include a trailer, suggestion for how to use the resource, notes for facilitators and links to further resources.
The resources offer low cost options for a week, month or a year and the small income generated from these resources helps us to do the important work we do. So – please don’t share the resources with others outside your organisation. The kits for workshop facilitators are intended for people to use within their own organisation. If you want to facilitate workshops with multiple organisations, please contact us.
Mr Velvet Ears
Mr Velvet Ears follows the experiences of Anne and Edie as they make the difficult decision to access a residential aged care home for Edie, who lives with younger onset dementia. Anne and Edie have been together for 35 years. The film is shot through the eyes of Mr Velvet Ears, their dementia assist dog; adding warmth to the difficult topics addressed in the film.
The resources offer low cost options for a week, month or a year and the small income generated from these resources helps us to do the important work we do. So – please don’t share the resources with others outside your organisation. The kits for workshop facilitators are intended for people to use within their own organisation. If you want to facilitate workshops with multiple organisations, please contact us.
Mr Velvet Ears
Mr Velvet Ears follows the experiences of Anne and Edie as they make the difficult decision to access a residential aged care home for Edie, who lives with younger onset dementia. Anne and Edie have been together for 35 years. The film is shot through the eyes of Mr Velvet Ears, their dementia assist dog; adding warmth to the difficult topics addressed in the film.
- Duration: one hour (can be extended to two)
- Aim: to improve understanding of the experiences of people living with dementia, particularly partners and carers, to assist partners and families of carers making decisions about support services; to assist in the development of more dementia friendly services; to assist in the development of more LGBTI inclusive dementia services
- Resource includes: a 40 min film; discussion points and links to further resources
- Suitable for: dementia services, carers services, carers groups, aged care service providers, community groups, individuals and families.
- Preview: see trailer below
- Cost: $8 (24 hours), $50 (week), $150 (month), $450 (year) - contact us re cost to use the film as a fundraiser
- Resource link: here
Film stories
This section tells the story of the production and launching of each film and includes reviews provided at launch events.
Mr Velvet Ears
Mr Velvet Ears was launched in 2019 - thanks to the support of over 100 people who donated 11,600 through our Pozible Campaign to make the film possible. We are so grateful to you all for your support. Launch events were hosted in Ballarat, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Thanks to Michaela Settle MP, Member for Buninyong for commending the video in State Parliament (see video below) and to Dr Al Power MD for his review (see below). Check out images from our launch events below and also the trailer. This resource is a valuable tool for service providers, carers, groups and community members.
Mr Velvet Ears was launched in 2019 - thanks to the support of over 100 people who donated 11,600 through our Pozible Campaign to make the film possible. We are so grateful to you all for your support. Launch events were hosted in Ballarat, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Thanks to Michaela Settle MP, Member for Buninyong for commending the video in State Parliament (see video below) and to Dr Al Power MD for his review (see below). Check out images from our launch events below and also the trailer. This resource is a valuable tool for service providers, carers, groups and community members.
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Mr Velvet Ears, Melbourne Launch
Mr Velvet Ears was shown at the fabulous Wheeler Centre during National Carers Week. The event was hosted by the City of Melbourne, Carers Victoria, Switchboard Victoria's Out and About Program and Anthony Carbines MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Carers and Volunteers provided a heartwarming message.
Mr Velvet Ears was shown at the fabulous Wheeler Centre during National Carers Week. The event was hosted by the City of Melbourne, Carers Victoria, Switchboard Victoria's Out and About Program and Anthony Carbines MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Carers and Volunteers provided a heartwarming message.
Mr Velvet Ears, Ballarat launch
Over 120 people squeezed into Little Square Garage in Ballarat for the World Premier of Mr Velvet Ears. The photos are not so good - but the reviews are amazing. Click on the photographs below to scroll through the Ballarat launch album and reviews.
Over 120 people squeezed into Little Square Garage in Ballarat for the World Premier of Mr Velvet Ears. The photos are not so good - but the reviews are amazing. Click on the photographs below to scroll through the Ballarat launch album and reviews.
Mr Velvet Ears, Mercy Place preview
Prior to the Ballarat launch we hosted a preview in Mercy Place, Ballarat. As Anne says, she would not have been able to make this film if it didn't have a happy ending... and Mercy Place, Ballarat gave the film its happy ending by provide a high standard of care for Edie. Thanks Andrew and the team at Mercy Place. Ps: we love that so many of the older nuns were able to come to the launch - the hand writing on the film review cards is testament to these women of substance. Click on the photographs below to scroll through the Mercy Place photos and reviews.
Prior to the Ballarat launch we hosted a preview in Mercy Place, Ballarat. As Anne says, she would not have been able to make this film if it didn't have a happy ending... and Mercy Place, Ballarat gave the film its happy ending by provide a high standard of care for Edie. Thanks Andrew and the team at Mercy Place. Ps: we love that so many of the older nuns were able to come to the launch - the hand writing on the film review cards is testament to these women of substance. Click on the photographs below to scroll through the Mercy Place photos and reviews.
The Circle of Love
Our 2017 film has been made and is very, very beautiful. The film was shot at the Circle of Love celebration of Edie and Anne's 33 years together - which was held (coincidentally) during the Marriage Equality Postal Vote in Australia.
Our 2017 film has been made and is very, very beautiful. The film was shot at the Circle of Love celebration of Edie and Anne's 33 years together - which was held (coincidentally) during the Marriage Equality Postal Vote in Australia.
Our Hearts Are Bigger
This second film was our first with professional film maker Andy Ferguson. Between this and the previous film Edie has needed more support from Anne - and so we decided to include both Edie and Anne in the film. In preparation for the film Edie and Anne were invited to write each other a letter about love every day for a week - and then to open and read them on film. The letter writing approach provided structure and opened up the possibilities. See gallery of photos by Lisa White below, from the launch and picnic. Also check out our Letters of Love and Dementia collection here. Educational resource coming soon.
This second film was our first with professional film maker Andy Ferguson. Between this and the previous film Edie has needed more support from Anne - and so we decided to include both Edie and Anne in the film. In preparation for the film Edie and Anne were invited to write each other a letter about love every day for a week - and then to open and read them on film. The letter writing approach provided structure and opened up the possibilities. See gallery of photos by Lisa White below, from the launch and picnic. Also check out our Letters of Love and Dementia collection here. Educational resource coming soon.
A Day in the Life of Edie
This first film is a series of photographs and a sound track produced by Catherine Barrett as part of a project documenting the experiences of LGBTI people living with dementia.
This first film is a series of photographs and a sound track produced by Catherine Barrett as part of a project documenting the experiences of LGBTI people living with dementia.
The team
The project team includes Edie Mayhew, Anne Tudor, Catherine Barrett and Andy Ferguson. Andy joined the project team in 2016 - after it was agreed the project was worthy of a professional film maker. Andy is the Director of Ferguson Films and has produced a number of films about dementia including Bigger Hearts. Edie, Anne, Catherine and Andy enjoy working together and challenging the status quo.
2019 was a big year with the loss of our beautiful Edie. We miss her so much. Edie's work continues on through her films - she will never be forgotten.
2019 was a big year with the loss of our beautiful Edie. We miss her so much. Edie's work continues on through her films - she will never be forgotten.