Bobby Goldsmith – Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt panel

Quilt panel, part of Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt, in memory of 'Bobby Goldsmith', cotton / paint, made in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1988 Rectangular quilt panel, landscape orientation. On a green back ground, the name Bobby Goldsmith is appliquéd in large yellow capital letters. The dates 1946 - 1984 are painted in blue and red paint. There is a pink triangle on the right hand side. The quilt was made in memory of Bobby Goldsmith (b: 1946, d: 1984). "A popular and active member of Sydney's gay community in the 1970s and early 1980s, Bobby Goldsmith was one of the first Australians to die from an AIDS-related illness back in 1984, when he was just 38 years old. Bobby is best remembered as Australia's swimming sensation at the world's first Gay Games, held in San Francisco in 1982. He had been instrumental in fundraising to help send gay and lesbian athletes to the Games and his activities were rewarded with personal success. Bobby returned home a hero, winning 17 of the Australian team's 21 medals. When Bobby was diagnosed with HIV in 1983, he was admitted to hospital. Back then, hospitals were daunting places for people with this strange new disease. However, Bobby's friends got together to find a way of giving him the love and care he needed at home. They raised money and bought equipment to make his last weeks as comfortable as possible. In June 1984, Bobby Goldsmith died with dignity at home, where he wanted to be. By the time he passed away, Bobby and his friends had established the important principle of providing support and services for people living with HIV. After all, if it could be done for one person, it could be done for many" From the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation website