A memorial park bench to honour the memory of the late Sister Paula Brettkelly will be unveiled in Wellington this Sunday. Sister Paula Brettkelly (Pic: Chris Sibley) Brettkelly, a Catholic nun who skirted around her church's condemnation of homosexuality and prohibition against condom use, became a tireless worker for HIV awareness, education and support, and for human rights. She became well known and highly respected throughout the country, but particularly in Wellington, for her work with gay men and HIV organisations. She died last August after a long fight with cancer. Some donations were collected at Brettkelly's memorial service shortly after her funeral, to purchase a memorial park bench, which will stand in Charles Plimmer Park in Wellington CBD. "Sister Paula's birthday is next Tuesday on the 3rd of February, so it was decided at the memorial that we would have a picnic at the park and unveil the bench close to that date. So I hope you had it in your diary and can all come," says NZ AIDS Foundation Board member Hamish Allardice. Bring a rug to sit on, a thermos of tea, cake, scones, a bottle of bubbly, holy water, what ever you like." The memorial picnic will begin at 11am this Sunday 1 February, at Charles Plimmer Park. The entrance is just off Palliser Road where it meets Bayview Terrace - marked with an 'A' on the map shown below.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 28th January 2009 - 4:04pm