AIDS memorial garden in state of disrepair

The Alfred Hospital has been called on to maintain a garden in memory of our AIDS fallen which has been turned into a giant ashtray and neglected into non-recognition.
A Yarraville man who asked not be named told Southern Star he was left -œdistressed after visiting the HIV/AIDS hospital facility, Fairfield House, where he discovered the AIDS Memorial Garden dead, the fountain switched off and the wall memorials in a state of disrepair.

He was also disturbed to see hospital staff stubbing out cigarettes and throwing them in the garden -” despite a cigarette receptacle three metres from the garden.
It is understood there are deceased people’s ashes in the garden.
-œThey should do something about it if it is a memorial and there are people’s ashes there. I think it’s a bit sad that they’ve let it get to that state, he said.
-œI understand there is a drought on, but if there is water for the roses at Flemington and money to look after the war memorial in the Botanical Gardens then surely there is some money to repair a memorial for those that have died from HIV/AIDS.
Then-Health Minister John Thwaites officially opened the $3 million Continuing Care Unit (Fairfield House) and AIDS Memorial Garden at the Alfred Hospital in 2000.
At the time, Thwaites said the garden was a -œkey feature of Fairfield House and provided a place of -œreflection and remembrance for people living with AIDS and their families.
When Southern Star contacted the Alfred Hospital, manager of public affairs, John Heselev admitted the garden had been poorly attended and said the hospital will make sure the garden is restored.
-œIt’s been obviously let go, he said.
-œWhen the heat passes we’ll be looking at replanting, and we’ll certainly be looking at drought-resistant plants.
Heselev said he believed recent hot weather had damaged the garden, however, he blamed neglect on the garden being left out of external contracts for garden and watering maintenance.
Heselev said a proposal to install a tank for water collection for the garden had been discussed and he said he have further discussion about adding another cigarette butt receptacle.
-œIt’s a very important place for those who have died and one we fully intend to maintain.
Fairfield House is a sub-acute hospital facility for HIV/AIDS patients and was moved to the Alfred Hospital after the closure of Fairfield Hospital in 1996.