Sunday, May 20, marks the 24th anniversary of the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial.
The theme of this year's Candlelight is Leading the Way to a World Without AIDS, a theme which symbolises hope, direction and the need for leadership at both the community level and the policy level to change the tide of this disease.
Ecumenical Church Service
The memorial will also be marked by special non-denominational service of prayer and remembrance.
Location: All Saints Church, Cowper St. Ainslie
Time: 5 pm
All welcome.
Candlelight Memorial Ceremony
Location: National Museum of Australia, Lawson Crescent Acton.
Time: 7.00 pm to 8.30 pm
All welcome.
This year's ceremony will be addressed by Phil Diment from the Quilt Project. It also marks the last occasion the AIDS Quilt will be publicly displayed in Canberra before being permanently displayed at the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney. The quilt is a memorial to those lost in the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The Memorial will also feature a performance by the Canberra Gay and Lesbian Qwire.
Significance
Since it began in 1983, the candlelight memorial has honoured those who have been affected by the AIDS epidemic. The organisers wished to honour the memory of those lost to AIDS and to demonstrate support for those living with AIDS. That remains the focus of the event today.
The Candlelight Memorial presents an opportunity to educate about HIV/AIDS, create community dialogue and influence local and national policy makers about prevention, care and treatment.
The AIDS Action Council of the ACT has participated in Candlelight for the past 21 years.
Canberra is the only city in Australia which participates in the event on the designated day.
For further details contact Bede Carmody, Event Coordinator, on phone 62572855 or via email bede.carmody@aidsaction.org.au
