LOTL-Magazine-Acon-25ACON is offering community members an opportunity to literally make history by contributing stories and images to a special project aimed at documenting ACON’s 25 years of community service.

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 NSW’s and Australia’s largest community-based gay lesbian, bisexual and transgender health and HIV/AIDS organisation.

 As part of it’s 25th anniversary commemorations, ACON is gathering information, stories, photos, images and memorabilia which demonstrate ACON’s contribution to and involvement with the community.

Information, documents and images can be uploaded anytime to the ACON website and selected material will be published on the ACON website and in community media to mark ACON’s official birthday in mid-August.

ACON CEO Nicolas Parkhill says all contributions will be welcome.“Over the last quarter of a century, our community has faced many challenges, chief among these being the impact of HIV/AIDS. We’ve also embraced many new opportunities and had cause to celebrate many achievements. All this makes for a truly remarkable story full of courage, compassion, grief, laughter and love.

“In our silver jubilee year, ACON wants to honour the legacy of all those who have gone before us, so I encourage community members to write their own page in our community’s history by contributing whatever material they feel captures their memories of or experiences with ACON over the last 25 years.

“It’s also important that future generations have access to this sort of archival material so they can better appreciate the people, groups and organisations that have helped shape our community. We’re keen to get as many different stories and images as possible, so I encourage community members to go through their photo albums, reminisce with their friends and then send us whatever material they feel is appropriate.”