Presentation at Te Papa
Audio from a presentation given by Michael Bancroft and Nicki Eddy at Te Papa - national museum of New Zealand. The presentation was held on the same day as the official gifting of the Quilt to Te Papa, 3 May 2012. A special thank you to Te Papa for allowing us to record this event on Te Marae.
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Summary
In 2012, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa hosted a significant event, marking the official gifting of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt. This presentation, delivered by Michael Bancroft and Nicki Eddy, offered an audio journey through the history, personal stories, and the cultural importance of the Quilt. The Quilt was a poignant tribute to those who lost their lives to HIV/AIDS, holding approximately 140 names, and symbolized both a memory of individuals and the collective experience of loss within the community.
Michael Bancroft, as the chairperson and guardian of the New Zealand AIDS Memorial Quilt, narrated the evolution of the Quilt and its significance in capturing the solemn memories of the deceased. The tradition of quilt-making as a form of memorialization began in San Francisco around 1987 as AIDS ravaged communities, especially impacting the gay population. Bancroft explained that each panel on the quilt, designed to resemble grave measurements, served as a testament to a life lost, encompassing lovers, family members, friends, and even strangers. The tradition was brought to New Zealand, where the AIDS-related death toll increased until the mid-1990s, when medical advancements began to reduce fatalities.
Nicki Eddy, contributing a heartfelt personal narrative, honored their brother and other quilt contributors. Eddy detailed their brother’s diagnosis in 1985 and the subsequent journey of their battle with AIDS, which culminated in their death in 1991. Posthumously, their family crafted a quilt panel dedicated to Robin's memory, capturing the essence of their life and spirit. This practice, they noted, served not only as a coping mechanism but also as an opportunity to publicly commemorate the lives of those like their brother.
Their presentation emphasized both individual and community experiences, showcasing how sufferers and their loved ones grappled with the physical and emotional tolls of the disease. From the "bloody old age" claim of a 93-year-old survivor to the conscious decision of an HIV-positive individual to discontinue medication after two decades of treatment, the stories illustrated various trajectories of life with HIV/AIDS.
As the guardian of the Quilt, Bancroft recollected intimate histories, standing witness to many individuals' end-of-life journeys. They also discussed the changing landscape, with HIV no longer being an acute death sentence due to medical improvements. Yet, as Eddy indicated through their family's narrative, the personal and community impacts continued to reverberate. The recording concluded with heartfelt gratitude for those who have maintained the Quilt and its transition to Te Papa as a national treasure, ensuring its preservation for future generations.
The AIDS Memorial Quilt presentation illuminated not just the struggles faced by those affected by HIV/AIDS in New Zealand but also the resolute efforts of communities to remember and honor their lives. This event, now encapsulated in the archives of Te Papa, serves as a historical testimony to resilience, remembrance, and a resolve to retain the significance of those affected by HIV/AIDS in the collective memory of the nation.
This summary is created using Generative AI. Although it is based on the recording's transcription, it may contain errors or omissions. Click here to learn more about how this summary was created.
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