Growing up in Orange, my family had a nightly ritual. At 7pm sharp, the TV flicked on, and without fail we were transported to Summer Bay. Home & Away wasn’t just a show, it was a staple, a kind of family glue. Among the familiar faces, Irene always stood out. She wasn’t just a character; she was like that aunt who would slip you a sip of beer at a family BBQ when no one was looking. Warm, mischievous, unforgettable.

So when I found out Irene is leaving the Bay, I tuned in for her final episode and it felt like a gut punch. And not because of just nostalgia. The story goes that Irene is stepping away due to Alzheimer’s. She chooses to leave while people can still remember her as full of life, rather than as the shadow of the person she will become.

That storyline hit me hard. Because for me, this isn’t just fiction, it’s reality. My dad was recently diagnosed with dementia. And unlike Irene, he doesn’t get the choice of leaving while people still remember him whole. The man I’ve always known, the jokes, the stubbornness, it’s still there on good days. But on others, it’s like pieces are missing. The world he once knew is changing, and I have no choice but to watch it happen. It’s terrifying, confusing, and heartbreaking.

What shook me most was the overlap, the way a soap opera plot mirrored my actual life. Except in Home & Away, they can write a character off with dignity. In real life, I’m learning to hold two truths at once: remembering my dad as he was, and living with who he’s becoming. Both versions exist in me, and they always will.

Maybe that’s the point. We don’t get to choose how people remember us, or when the remembering gets harder. All we can do is carry the best versions with us, and hope that in the middle of the mess, the love shines through.

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If you or someone you love is affected by dementia, you don’t have to go through it alone. Support is out there:

Dementia Australia – Support, information, and resources for families and carers 📞 1800 100 500 | 🌐 www.dementia.org.au

Carer Gateway – Practical help and services for anyone supporting a loved one 📞 1800 422 737 | 🌐 www.carergateway.gov.au

Lifeline – 24/7 support if it all feels overwhelming 📞 13 11 14 | 🌐 www.lifeline.org.au

Because sometimes life imitates art in ways that are painfully real. And when it does, it’s okay to lean on others.