This newsletter reaches you with the warmest Christmas greetings from all the staff at Westlund House. Another year is almost over, and preparations for 2006 have been well under way at the Council with staff and Board planning days having occurred over the last few weeks.
It is that time of year that we reflect on everything we have done over the year, and at times wonder how we have done it! My utmost thanks go to all our fabulous volunteers. There is no way we would be able to do as much as we do without them, especially over the very busy SpringOut and World AIDS Day period. This year we have had
volunteers put in hours of dedication preparing for and contributing on the day of Fairday, making more red ribbons than I thought it would be possible to sell in one World AIDS Day period (but they have!),
packing and distributing thousands of condom packs.
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| Community Support Services Unit Community Education and Health Promotion Unit Administration and events |
Key dates for Christmas and 2006
As usual the staff at Westlund House are taking a well earned break between Christmas and New Year. We will be closing at 12 midday on Friday, 23 December 2005, and reopening on 3 January 2006.
Volunteer Core Training dates have been set for 2006. To reflect many comments and the changing nature of our volunteer corps, we will be holding a revitalised Core Training course on Monday evenings between 6.00pm and 9.00pm commencing 13th February 2006 running through till 27th March 2006. This will include the Education and the Care and Support modules which used to be held on a separate weekends. Email or call Leonie Campbell (leonie.campbell@aidsaction.org.au, or 6257 2855) to register your interest.
2006 marks an important anniversary for the Council as it celebrates its 20th anniversary since incorporation. We will be celebrating this milestone in a number of ways, but importantly, we will be holding a celebratory ball in October 2006. Start those dancing lessons now and be ready to impress!
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Relocation
The Great Westlund House Move has not gone away. We are commencing the process of viewing possible properties and will keep you informed on the progress.
Merry Christmas to all - Rebecca
Community Support Services Unit
The lead up to Christmas has been a busy time for staff and clients alike. I can happily say that the Williams Housing Project is now complete with all residences occupied. The final property came on line just last week and a client has moved in. This is a brand new property in Gungahlin and is of a very high standard. What a great Christmas present!
The Women’s Christmas Luncheon was held last Saturday at the Promenade Café. It was great to have the women get together in a relaxed and enjoyable setting-some we hadn’t seen for 12 months, so there was certainly a lot of catching up to do.
‘Positively Red’ was held at Teatro Vivaldi on 9 December to celebrate World AIDS Day 2005. This was a huge success with 80 clients, staff, volunteers and guests enjoying great food and light entertainment. Thank you to everyone who participated and made this such an enjoyable evening while highlighting the important message of HIV awareness. Our special thanks to Mark and the team at Vivaldi’s for their friendly service and to Tony Ladd for entertaining us.
Jenny McDonald, specialist HIV dietician again flew down to the Council this month for follow up and new consultations. We have been fortunate to have Jenny’s significant expertise in the field of HIV and look forward to further visits during 2006.
As well as all the usual meetings and forums, other activities since the last newsletter have included the NAPWA conference, ACTCOSS Welfare to Work Forum and Staff Planning Day.
Happy Christmas to all and watch out for Care and Support Volunteer Training which will be held in the New Year after Core Volunteer Training. See you next year.
Nada, Stephanie B, Stephanie W. and Marcus (PLWHA)
Community Education and Health Promotion Unit
Tony, David, Jessie, Kevin and all of the casual SWOP Outreach Workers wish everyone all the best for 2006. It has been a very busy year and with SWOP now part of the unit it has extended our ability to utilise our campaigns and education initiatives to a broader group of people.
The Testing Campaign will have a high profile in the community early in 2006 with advertisements in the University newspapers, handbooks and the Chronicle. Hopefully you have obtained your Calendar from us and it is on your fridge door.
The PACT Project will continue in 2006 with testing/screening clinics to be conducted at Westlund House, Champions, Northside Studio and Youth in the City. We will advise you of all the dates in the first newsletter in 2006.
An animated advertisement about HIV and STI Prevention has commenced in the Hoyts and Greater Union Cinemas in the ACT and will continue into the New Year. If you would like to view the advertisement it can be accessed on our website www.aidsaction.org.au.
The Canberra Gay Community Periodic Survey will also be conducted during November 2006.
Season Greetings from All in CEHPU
Administration and events
Andrew, Leonie, Valan and Mandi would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, and a wonderful and prosperous 2006.
The admin unit has had an extraordinarily busy year, which seems to culminate in November and December of each year with the SpringOut Fair Day and World AIDS Day activities.
Our wonderful Volunteers have been very busy assisting us with World AIDS Day activities. They have also helped out a number of our clients, including moving furniture, lawn mowing and gardening. Our heartfelt thanks to you all, you are truly an inspiration in given so much of your time!
Don’t forget!
The AIDS Action Council still maintains a large range of safe sex products for you to purchase. As the Council is closed down for a 11 whole days, make sure you have enough stocks! Sales will close at 11am on Friday, 23 December, so don’t miss out!
World AIDS Day
1 December 2005 saw the commencement of a week of activities designed to bring HIV/AIDS to the attention of the people of Canberra.
The Chief Ministers Breakfast was again held at the Hotel Kurrajong. This event was attended by over 65 people, with representatives from The French, Ecuadorian, Chinese, Kenyan, Polish, Ukrainian and Botswana Embassy’s.
The Council held an education stall in Garema Place. We sold lots of Red Ribbons, gave out balloons and had a number of brochures available to the general public.
All Saints Church, Ainslie, again held an Ecumenical Memorial Service. This year the service was supported by eight other churches. The Qwire once again sang several heart moving songs. This was followed by the Twilight Remembrance Picnic at the Carillion. A number of people enjoyed this time to wind down and reflect and the highlight was witnessing the Carillion lighting up in red light once the sun went down.
Between the 1st December and 9th December Old Parliament House, the Captain Cook Jet, the Carillion, Questacon, the National Archives, the National Gallery and the National Library were lit with red light. The buildings looked fabulous, and the Jet was spectacular. Please log onto the website and follow the link to view some of these images. Lighting the buildings was used as a memorial for the families and friends who had lost someone to HIV/AIDS and as awareness raising to the general public that HIV/AIDS is still prevalent.