Fri 30 Jan 2009 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Aaron McDonald, editor of the NZ AIDS Foundation's Collective Thinking magazine for HIV+ people, has died of an HIV-related illness at his family home in Ashburton. Aaron McDonald McDonald was the founding member of the original peer support organisation for positive people in the South Island, and also gave his time to assist at various community events, gave several talks to aspiring health care professionals and in colleges and schools, and was a familiar face within the gay community in Christchurch. "To say that Aaron's health has not been the best in the past year would be something of an understatement," wrote Chris Banks in the latest issue of Collective Thinking. "And yet during that time, Aaron's commitment to ensuring that HIV positive people have a voice through Collective Thinking has been unshakeable." In one of his last issues as editor of the magazine, McDonald said: "HIV isn't me. It dominated my thoughts for a long time and it doesn't now… I'd like, in some small way if I can, to help other positive people and other gay men to have an easier time of it than I did. "As many of the HIV positive people reading this magazine will know, not everyone will respond to HIV and AIDS treatments. This is a reality that needs to be heard in our communities." McDonald died at his home on Friday 16 January, surrounded by his family and friends. His memorial was held the following Thursday.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Friday, 30th January 2009 - 5:14pm