Written by AIDS Action Council on . Posted in Media Releases
Canberrans have been invited to celebrate a massive fundraising achievement by local individuals, groups and organisations with the opening of the AIDS Garden of Reflection by the Chief Minister at the National Arboretum on Sunday 2 April.
The launch of a permanent memorial to those who have died of AIDS, which will provide a private place of peace and reflection within the Arboretum’s Gallery of Gardens, follows a huge five-year fundraising drive by the Canberra community.
Come along to celebrate the official launch of the AIDS Garden of Reflection.
This garden will be a special place Canberrans can visit for peaceful reflection to ensure those who have passed from HIV/AIDS are not forgotten and inspire continuing action to eliminate new HIV transmissions and stigma for those impacted by HIV.
What: The Official Launch of the Gallery of Gardens, including the AIDS Garden of Reflection.
The realisation of a permanent AIDS memorial in the National Capital is nearing with the ACT AIDS Action Council working hard to reach its fundraising target of $125,000 for the AIDS Garden of Reflection at the National Arboretum.
Personal donations from AIDS Action Council Patron John Mackay, community groups and other donors including the Snow Foundation currently total $95,000 leaving a shortfall of just $30,000 still to be raised.
“We are so grateful to the community for its generosity in supporting this important initiative,” said AIDS Action Council Executive Director Philippa Moss.
“We could never have imagined raising this sort of money and now we are so close, the dream is almost a reality,” Ms Moss said.
The 500sqm AIDS Garden of Reflection will be located adjacent to the Margaret Whitlam Pavilion in the Arboretum’s Gallery of Gardens, a series of seven connected gardens to be developed on the Events Terrace. It has been designed by renowned Melbourne-based John Patrick Landscape Architects, who have worked previously on projects in Yarralumla and Old Parliament House.
Written by AIDS Action Council on . Posted in Media Releases
Australia’s first AIDS Garden of Reflection begins construction
As Prince Harry and Elton John team up at the 2016 International AIDS Conference in South Africa, locally the AIDS Action Council of the ACT recently secured a significant contribution of $25,000 from ActewAGL to assist in the construction of the AIDS Garden of Reflection.
After 10 years of planning and fundraising, construction of Australia’s first AIDS Garden of Reflection will begin on Monday 25 July at the National Arboretum Canberra.
The AIDS Garden of Reflection is the brainchild of Richard Allen (also known as Rachel), who came up with the idea of the garden in 2006 after losing a friend to HIV. Richard, who has been HIV positive for 27 years, also lost his partner to AIDS in 1994 along with 12 other friends the same year.
Written by AIDS Action Council on . Posted in Media Releases
The John James Foundation’s Board has announced today the Foundation will support the AIDS Garden of Reflection with a generous donation of $10,000.
The John James Foundation is Canberra’s leading medical charity, located in Deakin in the Australian Capital Territory. As a not-for-profit organisation, the Foundation supports volunteer medical programs and a range of medical education activities. It also provides funds for local, grassroots charities and organisations that align with the Foundation’s objectives.
