Dementia research top of mind for Daphne

“John Hosie and I were invited to the inaugural function to launch the Lincoln Legacy Society, and it was from there that we both decided to leave a bequest to Macquarie University. We were particularly impressed by the openness of the University to accommodate to our wishes about the direction of our bequest.

John was the very first honours master’s student in the history faculty at Macquarie. I began my BA studies at

Macquarie in the late ’60s but moved to the US and finished my degree there. I completed my social work degree at Sydney University.

John was a historian with a number of books to his credit and also a teacher at secondary and tertiary level. His interest was in establishing a program in schools that addresses the needs of children who are experiencing severe disruption in their childhood, for example, the death of a parent or a difficult parental divorce.

My interest as a social worker is in dementia care. For many years, I worked in rehabilitation and geriatrics

departments. I have had a vast experience of dementia at both the professional and personal level, as John now has dementia.

I have had the privilege of meeting with several researchers at Macquarie in the dementia field and have been greatly impressed with their dedication to their research and their empathy for the patients and their carers. I have trust and confidence that my bequest will be put to good use.

In Australia, there are currently approximately 400,000 people living with dementia. It seems an overwhelming amount of suffering at so many levels. I believe that for every patient with dementia there are at least two family members suffering with them. Dementia robs the suffered of their personality, their memory and their histories, and it robs us of the loved one that we hold dear. It is among the cruellest of diseases because we are currently helpless before its relentless progress.

I liken my daily visit to the dementia ward to being as if I have a wound in my heart, and every day, I reopen the wound. It never heals. Nevertheless, my visits still provide some beautiful moments, and these are treasured.

I would consider myself blessed if my bequest could in some way go towards finding a cure for dementia so that the future generations do not face the challenge of such a devastating disease.”

Daphne Thornton

MACQUARIE LEGACY SUPPORTER AND MEMBER, LINCOLN LEGACY SOCIETY