Kirsty is the Founder and CEO of Umbrella Dementia Cafes (UDC). She is a registered Division1 nurse with a degree and expertise in Aged Services Management in the UK and Australia.

Drawing on international models from the UK and The Netherlands, Kirsty established the charity in 2016 and successfully implemented the evidence- based, dementia cafe ‘village model’ across multiple Victorian communities to address the gap in post-diagnosis social support.

On Sunday 19 October 2025, the Rotary Club of Mont Albert & Surrey Hills (MASH) is running its inaugural High Tea at the Box Hill Town Hall.

The event falls in Senior’s Month and is supported by Whitehorse Council.

Tickets can be purchased at https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1349245

All profits from the event will be used to support the disability organisation, Alkira Centre Box Hill, where we are installing solar panels and batteries on three buildings at their residential property in Churchill Street Mont Albert.

The theme of the afternoon is The 100 Project: Celebrating the extraordinary lives of 100-year-old Australians https://www.the100project.com

Through the eyes of our oldest citizens, filmmakers John Winter & Ros Walker will present a remarkable journey back through Australia’s past. John is best known for producing Rabbit-Proof Fence and Paperback Hero and Ros’ producer credits include Everybody's Oma and Netflix’s Into the Deep. The 100 Project has reached millions online — with 1.6 million TikTok views and a Facebook video of 107-year-old Violet Stephens going viral with over 1.5 million views. It has featured at Boroondara Council’s annual high tea for centenarians, Australian Association of Gerontology Conference, Oral History Australia Conference and ABC Radio Saturday Mornings with Matt Tribe.

Rotary club members will be making the food and participants will enjoy the Big Band music from the 1940s – our centenarians’ music. A fun and fascinating afternoon to share with family and friends. Please contact David Winter 0438 833 917 if you have any questions.

Hat Day is Australian Rotary Health’s longest running mental health research fundraising event, held on the 10^th of October every World Mental Health Day.

It is a day to wear an exciting hat and spread awareness of the 1 in 5 Australians suffering a mental health disorder.

Hat Day began as a fun and easy way for Rotary clubs around Australia to get together to raise money for mental health research through Australian Rotary Health. ​Since its fruition more than 10 years ago, Hat Day is now an annual event in every Rotary club’s calendar. A day for all to wear an exciting hat and raise money for the one in five Australians who suffer a mental health disorder every year.

​Hat Day events are not just about wearing an exciting hat. Rotary clubs have hosted Hat Day themed raffle nights, murder mystery role playing dinners and even fashion show extravaganzas!

One hundred per cent of Hat Day proceeds go into mental health research. Starting from 2023, Australian Rotary Health will be narrowing its research to the mental health of 0-12-year-olds.