The 30th annual Candlelight Memorial was celebrated in Perth last night at the WA AIDS Memorial.
The ceremony featured the traditional placing of candles to remember friends lost to AIDS, a philosophical reading and a live rendition of the song ‘That’s What Friend’s Are For’. A small crowd gathered for the event, a significant downturn from previous years.
The Western Australian section of the AIDS quilt was also on display, ending rumours that the important community artifact had been damaged.
Concern about the quilt had been raised by Sister Mary-Jane Singleton of the Divine Green Weed of the Perth Sisters. Appearing on the radio show ‘Rainbow Report’, which airs on Melbourne’s JOY 94.9, Sister Mary-Jane shared community concern that the quilt had been damaged through neglect.
The quilt is looked after by the WA AIDS Council. Andrew Burry, CEO of the council, assured OUTinPerth last week the quilt had not been damaged.
OIP Staff
Update: An early version of this story attributed the comments stated on JOYFM 94.9 to a different person.
