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While less names are being recorded, the trees at Sydney Park will continue to grow as living memorials to those who have died of AIDS, writes Mannie De Saxe.
When I retired from paid work at the end of 1991 I started doing volunteer work. I did a training course with Community Support Network (CSN), a Sydney group formed to assist in caring for people with HIV/AIDS.
My first long-time care was from the middle to the end of 1992 and, as happens under these circumstances, one becomes very friendly with the person one is looking after on a regular basis.
Jon died at the end of 1992 and it seemed to me that there must be more to remembering people than just disposing of their ashes and having a few ceremonies, which are, by their nature, short-lived.
I had heard of tree-planting projects as living memorials for people who had died of AIDS, and discovered two early on – one was in San Francisco and the other was in Medlow Bath Park in the Blue Mountains. As coincidence would have it, I also discovered that Sydney Park at St Peters was being developed from an old brickworks and garbage dump, and heard that South Sydney Council, which was the local council at the time, was happy to support community groups wanting to plant trees in the park.
After about 18 months of negotiations, and with my partner, Ken Lovett, having also just retired from paid work and on the way to becoming a CSN carer, we obtained permission from the council to plant trees in a part of the park to commemorate people who had died of AIDS.
Our first planting took place on May 15, 1994 and, with more than 70 people coming from around Australia to plant trees to commemorate partners, family and friends who had died of AIDS, we planted several hundred trees on a day when we had perfect weather.
South Sydney City Council decided to have three community plantings a year and we asked to be part of these plantings. The Council thought we were going to be a one-off event, but discovered we were persevering. Eventually we became part of the events. The trees, or saplings, as well as spades and water, and barbecue food on planting days, were supplied by the Council’s nursery, situated in the grounds of Sydney Park.
As the park developed, and the saplings started looking like trees, Council decided it needed permanent art work spread around the Park, and invited people to submit ideas. We submitted a plan for a ‘Reflection Area’ in the middle of our Groves areas, which had spread well beyond the original site. Council accepted our proposal, and on February 21, 2001, a ceremony was held to unveil a plaque and the Reflection Area, thus stamping our historic permanence in the Park.
At our 34th planting on Sunday July, 27, from 11am to 3pm, we will have with us the names of all those commemorated by the trees, recorded for all to see at the planting day.
There is now only one planting a year, usually on National Tree Day, but the Council – now City of Sydney Council – still provides us with the trees and all the other amenities, which help the day to be successful.
To date we estimate we have planted about 8000 trees in 12 years, and recorded about 1200 names, about 20 per cent of recorded AIDS deaths in Australia since 1983.
Fortunately each planting sees less and less names being recorded, but the AIDS Groves in 12 years have grown beautifully into a wonderful living memorial to those we remember.
The 34th Sydney Park AIDS Memroial Groves Tree Planting (SPAIDS) will be held on Sunday, July 27, 11am-3pm at Sydney Park, St Peters. For more info, visit www.zipworld.com.au
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