Positive Life NSW

This is an archived copy of a Positive Life NSW newsletter. To subscribe to our newsletters, click here.

Seasons Greetings to all members & friends!

Positive Life NSW would like to wish all members & friends a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Our office closes on Wednesday December 24th and re-opens on Monday January 5th 2009.

The Christmas New Year period can be difficult and stressful for some people with HIV as services close down over the holidays. We have some helpful information about the main Sydney services and what’s available during the Christmas/New year period. For more details please click here. Remember to stock up on your medications and be familiar with the times when services are closed.

Come and join our Holiday Season BBQs! The first one is in Newtown on Saturday December 27 and the second is in Centennial Park on Sunday January 4. For more information & RSVP details please check our events calendar.

Sero Disco - Why let HIV get in the way of a good relationship?

NEW SOCIAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN OUT NOW

Thought about going out with a positive guy, but worried …

In a relationship, but not confident about condoms …

Heard about viral load, but not sure what it means for you …

Thinking about how to tell some one you like that you are positive?

Looking after each other in serodiscordant relationships (where one partner is HIV positive and one partner is HIV negative) includes everything from communication to condoms.

Look out for our campaign postcards, t-shirts (available Mardi Gras Fair Day) and one-off lifestyle magazine. Also coming up in February 2009 is a Dinner Forum.

If you would like printed resources call Positive Life on 9361 6011 or freecall 1800 245 677.

Know the facts - Sex and Hep C

Another resource just out is KNOW THE FACTS - SEX AND HEP C. Hep C is usually transmitted by sharing injecting equipment (including needles, spoons, tourniquets and filters) as well as tattooing or body piercing with infected equipment. However, sexual transmission is also possible.

In the booklet we outline latest information about Hep C, ways to avoid transmission and current treatment options.

For further information click here. WARNING - content is unsuitable for people under 18 years.

Recipes for a jolly Christmas

Tim Alderman with his thoughts on Christmas.

For many people, this is not a good time of the year, and can be anything but jolly. I have a number of unpleasant Christmas memories myself - and I must admit to a bit of a bah-humbug approach to Christmas. But it’s not all bad. There have been the good times, and fortunately they have been good enough to blast away the lingering dread from the bad ones. For many years in the 80’s I ran an ‘orphans’ Christmas at home for friends who had nowhere else to go. I used to get up to 15 people at it, as there were many in that boat. I really loved doing it, and it was always a fun day because it was spent with people who really appreciated all the time and work that went into it. For two years after my run-in with AIDS we celebrated Christmas day with friends in the local parks of Bondi. They were really casual and relaxed days, again in good company.

For the full article & fabulous Christmas recipes click here.

Positive Life NSW turns 20!

Positive Life NSW celebrated 20 years at its recent AGM 3 December at the Kings Cross Hotel.

Three new distinguished members were honoured on the night including Bill Whittaker, Geoff Honnor and Claude Fabian.

A new board was elected, and a slide show of members, events and projects through the years was played.

The 2008 Annual Report was tabled, and the 20 year theme was also carried through the December issue of Talkabout, with a story from Gary Wotherspoon.

The Luncheon Club - A year of change

Fred Oberg reports on the Luncheon Clubs' 15th Birthday.

It has been a year of change for the Luncheon Club. In June Carole-Ann King stepped down after almost 15 years, organising a fabulous team of volunteers providing meals and running the larder service, filling the stomachs and nurturing the souls of many HIV positive people. She wanted the service to continue and approached ACON and BGF for support to jointly take over the management of the Luncheon Club. Although it seemed a big change for some, the transition has gone extremely well. The volunteers have been fantastic in responding to this change and have been very willing to work with the staff from ACON and BGF to try to make things run as smoothly as possible for the clients who access this busy service.

For the full article click here.