Sydney’s annual remembrance event for people lost to HIV/AIDS will take place again this year in May to coincide with similar international events.

The 2016 Sydney Candlelight Memorial will take place on the International Candlelight Memorial Day – the third Sunday of May – which this year takes place on Sunday 15.

The event is co-produced by ACON, NSW’s leading HIV prevention, HIV support and LGBTI health organisation, and Positive Life NSW, the peak organisation representing people with HIV in NSW.

The event will be held at the Eternity Playhouse in Darlinghurst and the hour-long ceremony will begin at 3:30pm, with doors opening at 3pm.

The AIDS Candlelight memorial has been held annually for over 16 years. It is the time when members of the community can come together and reflect on and remember all those who have died from HIV/AIDS.

Positive Life NSW CEO Lance Feeney says the memorial event provides a unique opportunity for the family and friends of people lost to HIV/AIDS to honour their loved ones in a supportive and understanding environment.

“Being part of a global day of remembrance for the partners, family, and friends we have lost to HIV/AIDS is a meaningful way to pay tribute to them as individuals as well as honour the collective response by our community to the impact of HIV/AIDS.”

ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill says the event provides an important occasion for reflection and remembrance.

“International Candlelight Memorial Day provides an opportunity to remember loved ones lost to HIV/AIDS, but it also serves as an opportunity to look to the future as we work together to end HIV transmission here in NSW, in Australia and indeed throughout the world. It also allows us to mark how far we’ve come as a community in terms supporting each other and advances made in treatment.”

The event will follow a similar format to previous Candlelight Memorials with the names of lost loved ones being read out during the ceremony.

Names and donations can be lodged on the Candlelight website: www.candlelight.org.au
EVENT: Sydney Candlelight Memorial
WHEN: Sunday 15 May, 2016, Doors Open 3pm for 3:30 start
WHERE: Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst

For more information please contact:

David Alexander, ACON Media and Communications Officer
E: dalexander@acon.org.au T: +61 (02) 9206 2044 M: +61 (0)428 477 042