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| irn | 7996 |
| master_filename | 001012_MIX_chloe_coombe.wav |
| master_md5 | DA65892560AE927CC0FCC5D145ACE41A |
| master_duration | 46:53 |
| master_sample_rate | 44.1 kHz |
| master_bit_depth | 16 bit |
| master_channels | 1 |
| media_reference | 001012 |
| media_source | PrideNZ.com |
| copyright_position | In copyright |
| copyright_ownership | Gareth Watkins (PrideNZ.com) |
| copyright_ownership_note | |
| submitted_to_nlnz | 27-02-2025 |
| public_url | https://www.pridenz.com/chloe_coombe_profile.html |
| meta_url | https://www.pridenz.com/data/media/meta/7996.html |
| plain_text_url | https://www.pridenz.com/plaintext/chloe_coombe_profile.txt |
| production_date | 17-02-2025 |
| production_day | 17 |
| production_month | 02 |
| production_year | 2025 |
| recording_type | Interview |
| series | |
| sub_series | |
| title | Chloe Coombe profile |
| description | Chloe Coombe, PhD candidate in history at the University of Otago, talks about her research: A Study of End-of-Life Care and Cultures of Commemoration during the HIV and AIDS Epidemic (1980s-1990s) in Aotearoa New Zealand. |
| summary_computer_generated | Chloe Coombe, a PhD candidate in history at the University of Otago, discusses her research on end-of-life care and commemorative practices during the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Aotearoa New Zealand from the 1980s to the 1990s. The interview, conducted by Gareth Watkins at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, explores Coombe’s personal connection to the subject, as well as her broader academic focus. Coombe’s interest in the topic is deeply personal, as her father passed away from an AIDS-related illness in 1995 when she was nearly five years old. For much of her life, the circumstances of her father’s death were kept a secret from her and her sister. It was only years later, after investigating inconsistencies in family narratives, that she discovered the truth. By obtaining her father’s death certificate and reaching out to old family friends, Coombe and her sister confirmed that he had been living with HIV since at least 1983 and had died from AIDS-related complications. The secrecy surrounding his illness reflected the intense stigma of the time, which deeply affected her mother’s ability to openly grieve and share the reality with her children. Coombe’s research examines how individuals and communities in New Zealand experienced the HIV and AIDS crisis, particularly focusing on the final stages of life and the ways people memorialised those who had passed. A significant part of her research involves oral histories, collecting the personal testimonies of those who lived through the epidemic—whether they were individuals with HIV, caregivers, friends, or members of support organisations. She explores both public acts of remembrance, such as the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt, and private, more intimate ways people have honoured their lost loved ones. During the interview, Coombe describes her first encounter with the AIDS Memorial Quilt, a significant artefact in the history of HIV and AIDS commemoration. She expresses being initially anxious about the emotional impact of seeing the quilt in person but ultimately found the experience deeply moving rather than overwhelming. The physicality of the quilt, with personal objects such as a soft toy cat sewn into panels, made the memories of those it commemorated feel more tangible. She contrasts this with viewing the quilt online, where the digital experience, though detailed, lacks the same emotional immediacy. Reflecting on her father’s death, Coombe discusses how her mother’s secrecy affected her understanding of her family history. As a child, she was given conflicting explanations, including that her father had died of cancer. Over time, inconsistencies in these accounts prompted further investigation. She and her sister began questioning the circumstances of their father’s death, ultimately leading to the discovery of the truth. She notes the broader societal stigma surrounding HIV and AIDS at the time, which likely influenced her mother’s decision to withhold information. Coombe’s academic work is interwoven with her personal journey, making the research both a scholarly pursuit and a means of processing her own history. Balancing personal emotion with academic detachment is a challenge, particularly when conducting interviews with those who have similarly intimate connections to the epidemic. Some interviewees describe preparing for death only to be saved by the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy in the mid-1990s—a medical breakthrough that came just a little too late for Coombe’s father. This contrast between survival and loss is something she finds both uplifting and heartbreaking. Her research also delves into the challenges of commemoration and the ways in which people continue to honour those lost to the epidemic. She is particularly interested in the private rituals of remembrance, such as the ways people cope with loss in their daily lives. While public memorials like the AIDS Memorial Quilt provide an educational and collective grieving space, personal remembrance practices often go unnoticed but are just as vital. Coombe expresses an interest in contributing a panel to the AIDS Memorial Quilt in honour of her father, though she acknowledges uncertainty about what she would include, given how little she remembers of him. She reflects on childhood memories, such as placing daisies in his coffin as a substitute for the cigarettes he once smoked. These recollections highlight the significance of personal storytelling in the grieving process and the importance of passing down memories, even when direct experiences are limited. Looking ahead, Coombe plans to continue her PhD research, taking a temporary break for parental leave before returning part-time. She anticipates several more years of work, including further interviews and analysis, before completing her dissertation. She hopes that her research will not only contribute to academic understanding but also help preserve the stories of those affected by the HIV and AIDS epidemic in Aotearoa New Zealand. Her work raises critical questions about historical memory, stigma, and the importance of oral history in capturing experiences that might otherwise be lost. By amplifying the voices of those who lived through the epidemic, Coombe aims to ensure that the narratives of loss, love, and resilience remain part of the historical record. |
| interviewer | Gareth Watkins |
| voices | Chloe Coombe |
| tags | 1990s; 2020s; academia; academics; death; HIV / AIDS; research; Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa; Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Tory Street); Aotearoa New Zealand; Dunedin; Wellington; AIDS Memorial Quilt; New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt; Chloe Coombe |
| tags_computer_generated | sex; health; mental health; history; archives; family; 2000s; straight; Body Positive; support; writing; Australia; school; friends; oral history; interviewing; Coming Up; Herne Bay House; drugs; stigma; University of Otago; medications; fear; love; reading; culture; Singapore; shame; desire; difference; loss; Otago; hope; university; Stuff; news; honours; grief; memorial; balance; change; understanding; funeral; other; army; connect; listening; future; work; cancer; failure; emotional; normal; Job; epidemic; newsletter; Europe; records; Space; touch; death certificate; gloves; wine; People; journey; crying; organised; time; quilt; wind; coffin; sad; period; small town; nursing; secret; memory; AIDS |
| location_name | Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Tory Street) |
| location | 169 Tory Street, Te Aro |
| broader_location | Wellington |
| location_lat | -41.29802096001784 |
| location_long | 174.77871243243212 |
| precise_locality | false |