Perth Voice Interactive

Isn’t that enough?

IT brought sadness to read that Landgate is seeking more information about Hoppy before offering the honour of a street-sign naming. 

Their basis being that his known activities are all financial (“The Search for Hoppy,” Perth Voice, November 2, 2024).

It reveals that Landgate misunderstands and devalues the entire migrant experience.

For many new-migrants, small business is their life. That is their contribution to society – and to their family.

Nothing more ought be required to portray one’s life-story as substantial or meaningful – and it surely should not be Landgate discerning the worth of a person’s civic life.

Brendan Bensky
North Perth

StyleAID doing nothing for positive people

THE Perth Sisters are calling for WA Aids Council CEO Daniel Vujcich to clarify at the AGM – for the health department, minister of health and the wider Positive community – what is WAAC’s official position on the StyleAID fundraiser, and to make a commitment that any funds raised in the name of HIV+ people, should go to directly benefiting HIV+ people and to support HIV+ people rather than staff support programs and WAACs consolidated revenue as in the past.

The Perth Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence have heard that the Aids Council is getting ready to re-launch that tired old money pit, #StyleAID. 

After seven previous StyleAIDs events, not one HIV+ support program received any benefit.

The only people to benefit from the seven previous StyleAIDS were those in the Perth Fashion Industry which is not what health department funding is meant for.

In the three month run-up, the staff hours and resources that have been used in the past for StyleAID preparation have had an impact on HIV programs, as they get put on delay while the whole staff are required work on the event. 

Health department funding was never meant to be a social event organiser for the gay and fashion glitterati. 

StyleAID is a failed money pit and the Aids Council needs to be called out on this and people made accountable which has not happened for the past seven failed StyleAIDS.

If another StyleAID or rebranded fashion event does not reach registered charity fundraising standards, we call for Mr Vujcich to resign and any promoter of a rehashed StyleAID needs to have their services at WAAC permanently and irreversibly terminated.

We all know the WA Aids Council rewrites history but it doesn’t matter how much they rebrand, you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. 

#STOPSTYLEAID

For more information contact The Perth Sisters perth.opi@gmail.com

The Perth Sisters OPI
Neil Buckley
Perth

WAAC responds

In 2025, WAAC celebrates its 40th anniversary.

STYLEAID has been chosen as one vehicle for commemorating the occasion alongside a program of free community events. 

All costs associated with running STYLEAID are recouped through corporate sponsorship and ticket sales, and historically, STYLEAID has raised significant funds that have been used to extend the reach and impact of WAAC’s prevention and social support services. 

STYLEAID’s established track record in generating community and media interest offers an opportunity to raise community awareness around the contemporary HIV landscape, including messages about PrEP, Undetectable=Untransmissible, and the need for ongoing advocacy to remove individual and institutional stigma.

Dr Daniel Vujcich
CEO WAAC