An official farewell is to be held at AIDS hospice Herne Bay House in Auckland this Friday to mark the closure of the facility after fifteen years. The Auckland City Mission, who owns and operates the house, decided after community consultations in August that it would close the facility as it was no longer cost-effective for the amounts of people using it. Anger was directed at the gay community during the consultations by groups who felt the facility had been hogged by gay men over the years, making other AIDS sufferers feel out of place or uncomfortable. Auckland City Mission CEO Dianne Robertson said in September that a large number of the gay community had also opposed the closure because of strong emotional connections to it, but that it was time for people to let go. The goodbyes are to be held this Friday November 11 from 4 to 8pm at the house, and will be a time to reflect on family members and friends who have died there. Those wishing to attend can RSVP by phoning the Auckland City Mission on (09) 303-9262 or emailing exec.asst@acm.co.nz .
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 7th November 2005 - 12:00pm