VAC posts small surplus
The Victorian AIDS Council/Gay Men’s Health Centre (VAC/GMHC) has posted a $35,750 operating surplus this year, announced at its annual general meeting.
The surplus is down from $103,091 in 2009, but VAC/GMHC treasurer Mark McColl said the organisation was in a sound position and said irregular pay cycles, onlien costs, and air conditioning repairs accounted for the fall.
Journalist, advocate and policy analyst Bridget Haire gave the 18th annual Keith Harbour address, discussing the future of biomedical HIV prevention strategies.
The President’s Award this year went to the Alfred Hospital Infectious Diseases Unit; the Gay and Lesbian Community Award went to Nick Ward for his work volunteering with the organisation; the General Community Award went to Ballarat Art Gallery for a series of fundraising events; the Media Award went to Southern Star Observer journalist Andie Noonan for her report about the failure of the Royal Melbourne Hospital to deal with a request for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) treatment. The story resulted in a public apology from the hospital and an undertaking to improve existing staff training on PEP.
The VAC/GMHC Special Service Award went to PK Tix Project volunteer coordinator Ian Foote and long-time volunteer Noel Brown; the Special Service Award went to Health Promotion Programs outreacher worker Bert Pei; the Research Award went to the Australian National NeuroAIDS Brain and Tissue Bank; and VAC/GMHC night managers Melissa Thompson and Grant Davies were honoured with Life Memberships.?
