Loved ones lost to HIV and AIDS to be commemorated

FRIENDS and family members lost to AIDS will be remembered later this month at the annual Sydney Candlelight Memorial.

To be held on May 18, Sydney’s event is part of a global commemoration that will be marked by 1200 community organisations in 115 countries. A similar event will also be held in Melbourne on the same day.

Health promotion body ACON and Positive Life NSW, the peak organisation representing people with HIV in the state, are co-producing the Sydney event.

Positive Life NSW chief executive Craig Cooper said the memorial provided an opportunity for those who have passed away due to HIV and AIDS to be honoured their loved ones.

“Being part of a global day of remembrance for the partners, family, and friends we have lost to HIV/AIDS is a meaningful way to pay tribute to them as individuals as well as honour the collective response by our community to the impact of HIV/AIDS,” he said.

ACON chief executive Nicolas Parkhill said the event was as much about looking forward as remembrance: “International Candlelight Memorial Day provides an opportunity to remember… but it also serves as an opportunity to look to the future as we work together to end HIV transmission here in NSW, in Australia and indeed throughout the world.”

Coordinated by the Global Network of People living with HIV, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial takes place annually on the third Sunday in May and aims to raise awareness of the effort to combat HIV and AIDS and of the 33 million people living with HIV today.

Following a similar format to candlelight memorials across the globe, the name of loved ones lost will be read out at the Sydney event.

More information on the Candlelight Memorial, including how to lodge a name to be read out, can be found at www.candlelightmemorial.com.au.

The Sydney Candlelight Memorial begins at 3.30pm on Sunday, May 18 at ACON and Positive Life NSW’s offices at 414 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills.

For details on the Melbourne Candlelight Memorial on the same day, click here.