Carolyn Bourke
Author | Speaker | Chaplain
yMEd, BA (Library and Information Sciences), Grad. Dip. Ageing and Pastoral Studies, Cert IV Chaplaincy
A MESSAGE FROM CAROLYN
Through my work, I explore the complexities of aging and the profound changes that come with it including dementia. One of our fears about dementia is that if we forget those we love and even ourselves, what is left? Is it possible for someone to still truly be themselves when they can’t remember the people and events that have shaped them?
I believe that we are intrinsically valuable as humans, created and loved by God, even if we don’t remember. How do those who love us connect in ways that are meaningful for them and for us? How do they deal with the ongoing grief and loss as dementia advances?
I look at the delicate but often also surprisingly robust, nature of our relationships with those we love and, eventually, the grief we experience when we have to let go. These stories are not just about loss, but about the resilience of the human spirit, the strength of love, the beauty of lifeand the enduring power of connection, despite mental and physical decline. I hope my words offer comfort, understanding, and a space for reflection as we all navigate the challenges of life’s most difficult transitions.
Carolyn lives in the northwestern most part of Sydney, Australia that can still officially be called living in Sydney. She shares her home with husband Peter, two chickens and a few thousand native bees. She also shares her garden with kangaroos, feral deer and the occasional snake.
Carolyn’s love for books began in childhood, nurtured by her sister, who read to her daily. From those early days, she dreamed of becoming a writer. At just 12 years old, she penned her first novel, a collection of handwritten pages that remains tucked away in a secret corner of her home to this day.
Working with books seemed like a good option so she became a librarian. This work in one of Sydney’s most multicultural and economically disadvantaged areas fueled her passion to see people reach their potential.
After working for many years as a librarian, Carolyn’s interest in dementia and end of life care started when she retrained as a chaplain. Her first placement was in an aged care home working with people living with dementia. To her surprise, she loved the work and getting to know people who were often overlooked, ignored or pitied by society. They are people with personalities, histories, passions and emotions just like the rest of humanity. Their cognitive abilities don’t impact their personhood.
Carolyn writes surrounded by reminders of the people and places she loves. The collection in her office includes coloured bottles, a whimsical bird, handblown glass chickens, a birdhouse hand-painted by her grandchildren, and fairy lights.
Sometimes those things find their way, almost subconsciously, into her writing. These tangible things represent intangible things – ideas, memories and love. The ideas and the memories might fade over time, but love remains.
