The ashes of a high profile Wellington HIV outreach and support volunteer have been scattered on Mt Victoria after he died of an AIDS-related illness. Warren Shore, 51, was a long-time volunteer at the Awhina Centre where he prepared safe sex condom packs distributed around the Wellington region and further afield and made up the thousands of red ribbons needed for the Centre's annual street collections. "Warren's enthusiasm for volunteering inspired many other volunteers to give up some of their time," says Awhina Centre Admin assistant Don Barclay, who notes that Shore always welcomed new volunteers "with a great attitude." His willingness to pitch in and his reliability endeared him to the Centre's staff and other volunteers. "On some occasions when I was not able to organise the Friday volunteers all I had to do was to phone Warren mid week and ask him to keep an eye on things," says Barclay. Shore's value to the Awhina Centre was acknowledged last year at a Volunteer's Evening when he was presented with a framed certificate of appreciation. Friends at the Centre say Shore spent a large portion of his working life with the United States Navy as a chef on ships including aircraft carriers. He loved gardening, cooking and entertaining and "hanging out with the 'surfie boys' on Lyall Bay." As well, he had a huge online network of friends. According to Shore's wishes, he was cremated and his ashes brought to the Awhina Centre. A celebration of his life was held was then held at Our Bar, one of his favourite haunts. Awhina staff then scattered the ashes around a kauri tree planted in Plimmer Park on Mt Victoria in 2006 in memory of those lost through AIDS. Ref: GayNZ.com (j)
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Thursday, 30th August 2007 - 8:44am