Day Three

Starting the day with a Kew coffee and croissant. Needed that sleep last night after constantly watching AIDS programming on TV. I can see why you can overdose on this Conference.

Today is meeting Therese at 3pm at Brunetti's in Swanston St at 3  pm so hope she remembers and is on time.

Some of the photos on exhibition at the Convention Centre

Michael Kirby holding forth on a panel, he is everywhere.

More exceptional photography ...

Les Obsedes on the tram..

Collins St Cafe Pallet

City of lanes...

Found a delightful French Creperie called Choix in a lane of Collins St. As it is close to Southern Cross Station I aim to have lunch with Graeme there on Thursday, hopefully at 2pm when it won't be so crammed and I am free. Tomorrow may even catch up with the elusive Marisa for lunch somewhere, if  miracles do exist.

Finally contacted with G and M, and all OK for G at  2pm at Choix on Collins, but of course M not free till Friday at 12 at her place. I will be late there as she is always late anyway. Hopefully Maisie and Eithne are free on Friday night for a light meal. 

A few hours later and the undoubted top event of the convention, for many reasons, took place in the community friendly and iconic Melbourne's Federation Square.

It was the Candlelight Memorial, with an excellent selection of speakers, and impeccably hosted by the major talent of a young Maori trannie, Richard Tucker, who set the night afire with wit, lucidity and verve which kept the freezing night air at bay. I happily bumped into a very old Melbourne AIDS Council friend from thirty years ago and we stood shoulder to shouder during the wonderul and moving evening, which lasted only one hour but felt much longer because of the great content and variety of performers.

I am writing this from a Fast Food house on Swanston street as I don't want to forget the buzz of this wonderful evening.

Begun by the fabulous PNG rock reggae group from this afternoon, Patti Poi, the tone was set for a high energy night. Speakers from so many different areas - a Fijian transgender activist spoke stirringly from the PoV of inequity for trans people, an American AIDS activist for women and her African counterpart spoke marvellously about the hidden plight of women with HIV. The  Victorian  minister for health  even gave a believable speech. The two stars of the biggest Melbourne musical 'Wicked' sang a beautiful duet about needing each other which brought tears to many eyes. The world Unicef Rep from the US and the rep for Enuf also gave a great and emotional speech. Also an excellent and moving speech by a young positive Melbourne boy who spoke of the future need for more action, the fight is not over. The evening was an enormous emotional success and it was in front of the people who were affected by HIV AIDS not the ones in it for the business end who are of course the convention's participants. The evening was finished by a great young Aboriginal girl singer who sang her wonderful original song called 'Hope', who is doubtless another major talent.

All in all, a night not to be missed and which made my trip to Melbourne absolutely worthwhile. WOW!

View of the Candlelight crowd at Fed Sq.

The great Maori M.C. Richard Tucker.