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Letters to the Editor
Letters Out
Politics

Lord James Rendell
Wed
15
Aug
AIDS Memorial Review
- Details
- Category: Think Tank
- Written by President, Fagmedia.com
Serious Questions have been raised about the state and future of WA's AIDS Memorial which is described by the Hon John Hyde in a Speech to Parliament as being the First in Australia and is a place of cultural significance to not just to the positive community in WA but is part of Australia's heritage.
Members of the Positive Community who attended the Perth International Candlelight Memorial earlier in the year were disappointed to find the Memorial in a terrible state of disrepair. The problems included the fact that central structure which consists of a reflection was not operational and marks on the ground provide evidence that the monument is being used as a skate board rink.
It was also clear that there was significant damage to the signage on the walls of the AIDS Memorial which includes lighting not working and the gardens were in need of repair.
Following the Candlelight Memorial, Board Members of People Living with HIV/AIDS WA Inc (PL) and HIV+ people contacted staff at the Town of Vincent who stated that they were not aware of the problems. The Staff did, however, give an undertaking to the positive community that repair work would be undertaken to repair and maintain the AIDS Memorial.
At that time the TOV staff were reminded that the AIDS Memorial is used on a regular and ongoing basis both by organisations such as the WA AIDS Council and People Living with HIV/AIDS WA Inc for formal events which include the annual World AIDS Day Commemorative Service as well as by members of the positive community who visit informally.
At a meeting between PL and the WA AIDS Council the CEO of WAAC raised a number of concerns and issues regarding the ongoing maintenance of the AIDS Memorial. Ms Langdon stated that the Town of Vincent had asked the WA AIDS Council for a contribution to the cost of maintenance but that this would mean cutting funding for services to positive people.
At a recent Quilt Panel Dedication conducted by PL for a member which was held recently the members of the positive community discovered that the AIDS Memorial still remained unrepaired in spite of the undertaking given by Town of Vincent Staff.
The AIDS Memorial is a site of huge cultural significance to many and ALL the positive people spoken to by Fagmedia have clearly stated that they feel strongly that it is a disrespect to the positive community to have the monument in a state of disrepair, especially at major events such as the Candlelight Memorial.
Having failed with diplomacy through the "right channels" to achieve an acceptable resolution of the maintenance issues and to repair the obvious damage, Fagmedia provided photographic evidence to the Perth Sisters of the Order of Perpetual Indulgence who took action in the media that motivated a start on fixing of the AIDS Memorial and with the hopes of reaching a long term solution to protect the integrity and dignity of Australia's First AIDS Memorial.
Fagmedia is also "interested" in the fact that in small town Perth whenever ANY story appears that is not "fluffy social" in ANY GLBTIQ media, whether online or in print, there are "gays" who are motivated by personal gain, social status or narrow political interests who feel comfortable using "tactics" which if directed at "homos by heteros" would immediately be called bullying! Some people seem to need to be reminded, about something Fagmedia understands, that trying to bully the Sisters into silence or ignoring "polite emails directed through the right channels" when the Sisters are on "a mission to help benefit the majority" will only achieve more publicity but not in the kind your ego likes!
It must be noted that when contacted the Mayor of the Town of Vincent, while not being very happy about being informed of a matter relating to TOV through coverage by a "media organisation", did respond within 20mins which the Sisters inform Fagmedia is somewhat of a record! It is disappointing that organisational cultures continue to be promulgated in which politely following the "right channels" does not achieve any result until the media is involved, something the Sisters do quite well.
Fagmedia can state that Town of Vincent Park staff were witnessed working on repair and garden management during the Sister's "meeting with the media" which was held at the AIDS Memorial earlier this week.
This does not mean that all the problems are solved. Fagmedia understands the water feature remains unrepaired pending a consultation with community stakeholders which the Mayor of the Town of Vincent has agreed to have.
The aim of this meeting is to find a long term and sustainable solution to protect the AIDS Memorial for future generations. What is clear is that as with everything to do with HIV/AIDS in WA passions runs hot and so any solution must be made in consultation with all stakeholders.
It is clear that as mistakes have been made in the past specifically in relation to the choice of putting in a high maintenance water feature that requires ongoing work. While it is important to acknowledge the community's deep connections to the structure the Sisters have pointed out that this may in fact be an opportunity to help resolve the "inherited design issues" to make the site more accessible while removing from the Town of Vincent the burden of the cost of ongoing water feature repairs.
Fagmedia understands that the Town of Vincent have agreed to address the issue of the AIDS Memorial being used as a skateboard rink though we are unclear as to what the final methodology will be. The City of Perth does utilise small unobtrusive "buttons" to prevent their seats from being "skated" on and Fagmedia understands this is a consideration.
What is clear, however, is that no one stakeholder can make decisions on behalf of other stakeholders. Any change needs to occur with the consensus of the whole community and this is the rationale underpinning the meeting to discuss the next way forward for the AIDS Memorial.
The Community will need to address a number of issues at it's meeting and these include:
1. The lack of a formal written agreement in regards to ongoing maintenance costs. Regardless of whether or not there was an agreement between the WA AIDS Council and the Town of Vincent the responsibility for the memorial's upkeep arrangements needs to be clearly defined.
2. The site is listed on the heritage register as being a site of significance for indigenous people. A plaque next to the Monument indicates that this is also a resting place for an indigenous person.
While there is indication that there was consultation with the indigenous community prior to the construction of the memorial, it is also true that Australia's understanding of the value of indigenous culture has matured since the monument was constructed and so it would be wise to consult with the traditional owners to ensure the location is appropriate for coexistence!
3. A number of positive people have stated to Fagmedia that the current design may not have been the design that was the winner of the competition run by WAAC.
If it is true that the voting on the design for the AIDS Memorial was conducted at a Cinema and that in order to vote positive people had to pay for an entry ticket to a movie then clearly this does not seem to meet modern democratic standards in relation to inclusivity, equity of access and participation.
If the design that was built did not meet the design brief or was not the agreed model "voted" on by the community, then does that not mean that a NEW consultative consensus driven process now to reach an "acceptable to modern standards" outcome that does meet the needs of all stakeholders, might just be a good thing?
Fagmedia understands that one option, which is just a suggestion by someone who is not a member of the OPI, is that if the Town of Vincent reports to the community that the water feature has reached the point where the cost of repair is prohibitive due to the deterioration of the mechanics then perhaps it might be time for it to be replaced with a red ribbon in the form of a mosaic. This would also provide space within which to conduct ceremonies such as when the AIDS Memorial Quilt is displayed.
If positive people could participate in the making of the mosaic then perhaps this might actually be a way to build some social capital within the PLHIV Community through the shared connective experience.
This would add to the site an image that is already associated with HIV/AIDS. The red ribbon would also enable members of the public to more readily recognise the purpose of the space and may indirectly result in increased HIV awareness within those who pass by. Fagmedia's discussions with the community have also highlighted the lack of seating, which is important for people whose health requires a place to sit on visits, which prevents the positive community from having picnics and other meetings for peer support at the site.
Finally, to put it bluntly, as "someone" stated to Fagmedia in relation to the past "There may not have been suitable consultation with the HIV+ community and relatives of HIV+ people".
It is a continuing burden of any small town that competitions over "social status" and "scarce resources" can result in harmful social consequences. Sadly, the AIDS Industry and their funders, the Health Department of WA are, regardless of political affiliation, not known for their consultative approach.
Those that control the means of production in regards to HIV/AIDS in Perth often choose to undertake inadequate consultation and shut grass roots community members out of decision making processes. As a result rather than building social capital, which is the glue that holds community's together, is undermined and fragmented.
It's time: for a "new paradigm"! Rather than seeing consultation as a chore it would be better if a consensus approach could be adopted. There are many people, not just the small number of "usual suspects" who feel a connection with the AIDS Memorial and who would be interested in assisting the positive community to protect the AIDS Memorial.
One of the joys of participatory democracy is that community is enriched and unexpected ideas can flow when people feel safe enough being included. If anything can be learnt from the failure of HAPAN it is that small cliques that exclude, do not adhere to confidentiality and bully people only serve to make people scared to participate.
Likewise, if one or two stakeholders just pay lip service to consultation and make all the decisions "for the community" then people do ask themselves what is the point of me turning up if everything is decided in advance?
Isn't this combined with the negative political culture driven by a small group of individuals who try to control "invitation data bases", the reason why the WA AIDS Council and NAPWA both struggle to find people willing to attend their strategic planning consultation workshops and by extension why the AIDS Memorial got to be in the state it is in?

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