World AIDS Day events in Sydney and Melbourne

World AIDS Day events in Sydney and Melbourne

WITH World AIDS Day is just around the corner, both Sydney and Melbourne will play host to a few events in the days leading up to the annual event on December 1.

The below list are some of the highlights, events planned by NSW’s ACON and the Victorian AIDS Council (VAC).

You can find out what’s happening in your city by contacting your local HIV and AIDS organisations.

Melbourne:

  • MASKING THE FACE OF HIV/AIDS – open 10am-5pm daily, now through to December 7 at Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel St, Prahran:  This World AIDS Day photographic exhibition (curated by Anne McGravie-Wright)features images taken at the Global Village during AIDS 2014 in Melbourne. Admission: donation to VAC. Details: chapeloffchapel.com.au
  • RED RIBBONS – Friday, November 28 and Monday, December 1, at various inner-city train stations and CBD locations: Keep an eye out for VAC volunteers as they’ll be handing out free Red Ribbons to raise awareness of HIV and AIDS. They will also accept donations from the public. Details:  www.vac.org.au/red-ribbons-fundraising
  • RED PARTY– Saturday, November 29, 9pm-3am at The GH, 1 Brighton Rd, St Kilda: The GH will be getting wrapped up in red for World AIDS Day to raise awareness and funds for VAC. GH bar staff will also  be donating their tips, and there’ll be special red drink specials with a portion of each one sold going into the total donated from the night. VAC volunteers will be looking after the cloakroom – so while we all know the weather is heating up, wear jackets, jumpers, t-shirts and cloak them all. There’ll be no complaints if you’re shirtless. Details: www.ghhotel.com.au/2014/10/the-red-party-sat-29-nov/
  • WORLD AIDS DAY @ FEDERATION SQUARE – 10am-4pm, Sunday, November 30 at Federation Square: Along with YEAH and Joy 94.9, VAC will be at Federation Square on the Sunday before World AIDS Day to distribute ribbons and raise funds under YEAH’s Giant Condom Castle. Details: http://www.vac.org.au/world-aids-day-2014-fed-square
  • RED RIBBON COFFEE CUPS – Monday, December 1 at various cafes around Melbourne: Start your day at one of the many cafes in Melbourne who will be switching their usual takeaway cups on December 1 to World AIDS Day Red Ribbon cups. For a full list of participating cafes, visit www.vac.org.au/world-aids-day-coffee-cups
  • HIV & THE LAW – 7pm, Monday, December 1 at The Cube, ACMI, Federation Square: VAC and Living Positive Victoria are partnering to present HIV and the Law: Sex, Risk and Liability in Victoria. This World AIDS Day public forum will address community concerns around section 19A of the Crimes Act 1958 (VIC), Australia’s only specific HIV criminal law, and other Victorian laws that criminalise HIV  transmission and exposure. Paul Kidd will discuss the work being done by the HIV Legal Working Group to have section 19A repealed. Barrister Simon Moglia will speak about sex, risk and the potential for liability in Victoria for people living with HIV. The forum will also discuss the public health model as an alternative approach to addressing individuals who might be putting others at risk of HIV in Victoria. A Q&A session will follow the speakers’ presentations. RSVP: [email protected]. Details: www.vac.org.au/hiv-law-community-forum
  • WORLD AIDS DAY 2014 MEMORIAL SERVICE – Doors open 5pm for 6:30pm start, Monday, December 1 at Positive Living Centre, 51 Commercial Rd (Former Braille Library), South Yarra: An intrinsic part of World AIDS Day, the Annual Memorial Service will be held at VAC’s PLC. This important event is an opportunity to stop and remember all those we have loved and lost since the beginning of the HIV and AIDS epidemic. The Quilt Project Memorial Quilts will be on display during the ceremony and the names of those who have passed this year will be added to the memorial that hangs in the PLC year-round. The ceremony will feature guest speakers:
    • former VIC Health Services Commissioner Beth Wilson
    • Jon Jackson
    • Jade Leonard
    • Luke Gallagher MC
    • Melbourne Gay and Lesbian Choir

Sydney:

  • ENDING HIV RED RIBBON APPEAL – Sunday, November 30 and Monday, December 1 at selected locations: On the day before and on World AIDS Day, volunteers will be selling red ribbons ($3), wristbands ($5), enamel pins ($5), diamante pins ($10) and key rings ($10) at selected locations throughout Sydney.In the lead-up to World AIDS Day, Red Ribbon merchandise can be purchased from businesses displaying Red Ribbon boxes or donations can be made via the official ENDING HIV Red Ribbon Appeal web site: www.endinghiv.org.au
  • POP UP HIV TESTING SERVICE  – 3.30pm-6.30pm, November 24-28 at Taylor Square: A temporary rapid HIV testing van will be offering free walk in HIV tests. There’ll also be a special Red Ribbon installation that will stay in place through to World AIDS Day where people will be able to write messages of support, which they can pin to the installation or post to a digital billboard using Twitter or Instagram with #HelpEndHIV.
  • PAINT THE TOWN RED – 12noon- 2pm, Friday, November 28 at Darling Park Garden: Led by CommBank, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Macquarie Bank, the corporate residents of the Darling Park precinct will be out and about in Darling Park selling Red Ribbons and promoting World AIDS Day. Hosted by SBS newsreader Ricardo Goncalves, there’ll be a lunchtime barbecue and live band entertainment. All proceeds go to the ENDING HIV Red Ribbon Appeal.
  • THE RED PARTY – From 9pm, Friday, November 28 at Stonewall: Red Ribbon benefit night at Stonewall Hotel on Oxford St, Darlinghurst. $5 donation at the door. Shows all night by Sydney’s leading drag performers. All proceeds go to the ENDING HIV Red Ribbon Appeal.
  • RED HOT SUNDAY AT SLIDE – 5pm-10pm, Sunday November 30 at Slide Lounge: The search for Australia’s hottest ginger comes to a head at this Red Hot event. Five flame-haired fellas will set the stage on fire in the glamorous surrounds of Slide Lounge on Sydney’s famous Oxford St as they compete to be the winner of the Red Hot: Down Under Model Search. There’ll be  entertainment all night from some of Sydney’s leading ginger performers. Tickets are at just $15, with all proceeds going to the ENDING HIV Red Ribbon Appeal.
  • RED HOT: DOWN UNDER EXHIBITION – December 2-14 at Deutscher & Hackett Gallery: After taking New York, London, and Amsterdam by storm, the Red Hot exhibition (www.redhot100.com) is coming to Sydney, showing at the Deutscher & Hackett Gallery in Darlinghurst. 100 photographic portraits of the hottest red-headed guys in world will be on display. The exhibition will also feature the winner of the Red Hot: Down Under Model Search. Also on display will be a series of short films about the Red Hot project and models. Merchandise will also be available for purchase. All proceeds go to the ENDING HIV Red Ribbon Appeal.
  • KALIDEOSCOPE SOCIAL DANCE – 7pm-1am, Saturday, December 6 at Parramatta Gold Club: A red-themed edition of this regular dance party will be hosted by Beverly Buttercup, Pandora Box and Geoff Field (2DayFm). Special performances by drag kings, drag queens and live singers. Music by Ophelia Shaft. All proceeds to ACON Western Sydney. Ticlets $15. Detaills: SMS 0433 232 425.
  • DISHY – 5pm-12am, Saturday, December 13 at Freda’s: Get together with Sydney’s favourite alternative drag queens, camp pop bands and fabulous DJs for this special Red Ribbon edition of the popular indie club night at Freda’s in Chippendale. The December party’s festivities will include performances by dream-pop band Yoke, drag performances by the glitteriest star of the underground, Matt Format, and DJ sets by Black Vanilla, Matt Vaughan, Cunningpants and more, as well as a hilarious game of Homo Bingo.  Only $10 with all proceeds, and 10 per cent of bar takings, going to the ENDING HIV Red Ribbon Appeal.
  • ACON have also planned a range of events in regional NSW, including the Wollongong, Northern Rivers, Hunter, North Coast and Southern NSW regions. For full details on what’s happening and where, click here.

Do you know of any World AIDS Day events happening in your city? Tell us with a comment below.

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