Jennifer’s story and the personal recollections of 60 others are told in Through Our Eyes, a history of HIV/AIDS in Australia from the National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA).
Through Our Eyes was edited by local researcher Dr John Rule, and provides an insight into the outbreak of HIV/AIDS in Sydney and the community responses that followed. Editorial assistance was provided by Sydney historian, Garry Wotherspoon.
John skilfully weaves together the personal recollections of people as diverse as former High Court Justice Michael Kirby, writer Denis Altman, journalist Paul Kidd, HIV activist David Menadue and Yorta Yorta woman Michelle Tobin.
Rule recalls the fear at the time was very real. “It was a crisis, no treatments were available and lots of people were dying.”
“Community carers who went into people’s homes and the nurses and doctors at St Vincent’s Hospital were fearless people and ahead of their time,” says John. “Other local services such as the food distribution network and community transport also helped out.”
Michelle Tobin writes that in 1992 she lost her husband to the AIDS virus. She is now committed to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia and as a speaker with Positive Life, NSW.
Former Chief Executive of the NSW AIDS Council, Bill Whittaker, reveals that NSW is still the state most affected by AIDS in Australia and praises the current NSW HIV strategy which sets a timeline for the elimination of HIV transmission by 2020.
Michael Kirby pulls no punches in his chapter as he attacks “the haters in our sunny land”.
“Only the ignorant and wicked minds of the stigmatisers remain, languishing with their medieval demons,” writes Kirby.
At a recent candlelight gathering, John Rule and other contributors to the book shared their feelings of anger, bewilderment and loss at the time.
“I have been amongst the candles that moved from Kings Cross to Green Park where vigils were set up at the hospice near where people were dying,” recalls Rule. “I have been part of the gatherings in Hyde Park where names were read and tributes paid to those who had died.”
Through Our Eyes can be ordered from the National Association of People with HIV Australia (NAPWHA) by emailing admin@napwha.org.au.
