Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!snorkelwacker!usc!ucla-cs!Robbie.Bates@p1.f381.n634.z3.fidonet.org
From: Robbie.Bates@p1.f381.n634.z3.fidonet.org (Robbie Bates)
Newsgroups: sci.med.aids
Subject: Australian AIDS News
Message-ID: <36051@shemp.CS.UCLA.EDU>
Date: 7 Jun 90 04:49:14 GMT
Sender: news@CS.UCLA.EDU
Organization: FidoNet node 3:634/381.1 - Big Tedd's BBS, Armadale Victoria
Lines: 116
Approved: phil@wubios.wustl.edu
Note:	Copyright 1990 by Daniel R. Greening.  Permission granted for
Note:	non-commercial reproduction.
Archive-number: 2153

ENDING THE ERA OF DENIAL

Candlelight Vigil Mobilises Huge Crowd in Remembrance, Hope & Action

By Chris Gill

Melbourne, Australia, 1 June 1990 (MSO)

The Police estimated that between 4,000 and 6,000 people were
there. The television news crews settled somehow on a figure of
4,500. Other estimates were lower, but whatever the precise
figure, the Melbourne vigil was a huge event - and a huge
increase on last year's figure of 350.

But the success of 1990 Candlelight Vigil was obvious in more
than mere numbers.

Quilt Project Convenor Phil Carswell commented after the event
that it marked the beginning of a new era of AIDS consciousness
in Victoria.

"This is the end of the era of denial," he said. "The vigil marks
a significant breakthrough in popular consciousness and
understanding about AIDS."

There were mums and dads, kids and grannies, lovers, friends and
others for whom the night was an opportunity to share both their
grief, their hope and their solidarity.

Above all, the 7th International AIDS Candlelight Vigil, held
this year in 220 cities around the world, was a profound public
statement about the emotional impact of the epidemic.

At the Princes Plaza rallying point, one of the organising team,
Tom Carter, gave a short speech about the purpose of the
gathering. With the lights of Flinders Street Sation blazing and
the flags of all nations hanging quietly in the chilled evening
air, Carter spoke to a quiet crowd.

"We are here," he said, "in rememberence of those lost, in hope
for those infected and together in action to fight against AIDS."

Melbourne's bid to host the Olympics claimed its first victim
when an elderly woman tripped and broke her leg on the shoddy,
exposed metal grid holding up the forest of flags. She was helped
away to hospital for treatment.

As participants lit their candles and moved off across Princes
Bridge, the enormous size of the gathering became apparent.

As those at the head of the march reached the Art Gallery and
looked back toward Flinders Street, there was just a river of
burning candles, five or six across, stretching all the way back
over the bridge to the rallyiong point at Princes Plaza.

Police were caught completely unprepared for the size of the
march. One of the young constables on point duty at Flinders
Street followed the head of the parade to the gallery and tried
unsuccessfully to direct leaders onto the footpath. The police
were disobeyed with dignity and good humour. No-one was going to
allow the procession to be pushed aside or marginalised.

As the last half of the procession approached the Gallery,
everyone held their burning candles over their heads in a
spontaneous action that swept down the procession like a ripple.
It was an impressive sight and a symbolic expression of unity.

Candles were extinguished as the crowd slowly filed through the
entry foyer of the Gallery, through the sculpture garden, past
enormous bronze sculptures, and into the Great Hall where the
ceremonial unfolding of the Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt was to
take place.

The Hall was full and people left in the courtyard clambered to
peer through the windows as the names of Victorians lost to AIDS
were read out and the panels unfolded. The "celebrity" name
readers represented a cross-section of those affected by the
virus.

Quilt Project Convenor Phil Carswell was first, wth other readers
being (in order): State Health Minister - Caroline Hogg; Federal
Health Minister - Brian Howe; AIDS Trust of Australia Board
member - Keith Harbour; ANCA Member - Dr David Bradford; National
Convenor of the PLWA Coalition - Robert Jarman; VAC/GMHC worker -
Bill O'Loughlin; Danielle - from Positive Women; Anthony Brown -
from the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service; Youth Peer Educator
- Thomas Misson; Victorian Deaf Society AIDS Educator - Robert
Leigh; and Sister Hilda - Fairfield Hospital Chaplain.

When the names were read and the Quilt fully unfolded, the crowd
walked among the panels.

People admiring the panels were moved in many different ways.
Some embraced, cried, shared memories. One popular square of
panels had been left blank especially for those present to leave
messages and impressions.

People payed their respects, caught-up with old friends,
embraced, shared their grief and then, gradually, they filed off
homewards.

Like the ANZAC Day Parade, the Candlelight Vigil presents an
opportunity for collective mourning. The Candlelight Vigil also
provides the opportunity to express the solidarity and hope that
enables us all to keep going.

As the AIDS epidemic expands, greater numbers of people will be
forced to come to terms with their own individual losses. The
Vigil and the Quilt have now been established as vital, healing
elements of our response to this crisis.

[ (C) 1990 Oz Media Ltd. Melbourne Australia. Used By Permission ]

--  
Uucp: ...{gatech,ames,rutgers}!ncar!asuvax!stjhmc!3!634!381.1!Robbie.Bates
Internet: Robbie.Bates@p1.f381.n634.z3.fidonet.org