May date for commemoration
This year’s Sydney Candlelight Memorial for people who have died from AIDS will take place on Sunday, May 20 to coincide with International Candlelight Memorial Day.
ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill said last year’s attendees found that moving the commemoration from World AIDS Day in December to International Candlelight Memorial Day added to its significance, both locally and globally.
“Most countries, and indeed other states in Australia, have their official commemorations on this day and moving Sydney’s memorial event to coincide with similar events in Australia and around the world has allowed us to become part of a global day of remembrance for the partners, family, and friends we have lost to HIV/AIDS,” Parkhill said.
Positive Life NSW executive director Sonny Williams said feedback from last year’s event indicated that holding the memorial in May made it easier for people to attend.
“World AIDS Day has become a day full of many events related to HIV/AIDS and shifting Candlelight to May has given our community in Sydney a better opportunity to focus on this important occasion for reflection and remembrance,” Williams said.
The memorial will be held at Slide bar, 41 Oxford St, Darlinghurst. The hour-long ceremony will begin at 3.30pm. It will follow the same format as previous Candlelight Memorials with the names of lost loved ones read out during the ceremony.
The Candlelight Memorial is co-produced by ACON and Positive Life NSW.
INFO: Lodge names and donations at www.candlelight.org.au
