2 February 2010

ACON marks its silver jubilee in 2010 and wants community members to help plan the commemorations.

ACON was established in 1985 to help fight the spread of HIV and to provide care and support for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Since then, ACON has evolved to become Australia’s largest community-based gay lesbian, bisexual and transgender health and HIV/AIDS organisation. In 2010, ACON’s mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of the GLBT community and people with HIV, and reduce HIV transmission.

To mark 25 years of service to the community, ACON is planning a series of special events and activities to take place throughout the year.

As part of the planning process, ACON is seeking ideas from the community about how such a significant milestone can be commemorated.

ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill says ideas from community members will help inform the existing schedule of events.

“Achieving 25 years of service to our community is a tremendous accomplishment,” Mr Parkhill says. “Over the last quarter of a century, our community has faced many challenges, chief among these being the impact of HIV/AIDS. We’ve embraced many new opportunities and had cause to celebrate many achievements.

“ACON has been an integral part of this process and it’s important that we take time to reflect on the contribution that ACON has made over the years and that we honour the thousands of people who have helped build the health and wellbeing of our community through an affiliation with ACON as clients, volunteers, members, supporters or staff.

“We’ll be kicking off the commemorations during Mardi Gras and they’ll continue at regular intervals over the course of the year, the details of which will be released prior to each activity.

“However because ACON has historical connections with so many members of our community, we’d like people to let us know how they’d like to mark ACON’s 25 years of service. We’re keen to consider a broad range of ideas and possibilities so I encourage community members to visit our website and submit their ideas as soon as they can.”

Ideas can be submitted at www.acon.org.au/25 and will be accepted throughout 2010.

A special commemorative logo was also released this week and will be used on ACON posters and collateral throughout 2010.