David William Lamb interviewed by Stuart Reid

Lamb, chartered accountant, gay activist and volunteer treasurer for the AIDS Council of Western Australia, speaks of his accounting background, his involvement in the small Perth gay community, decriminalisation of homosexuality in W.A., the development of the AIDS Council from the Gay Counselling Service, the problems with voluntary testing for AIDS, how his life changed when he was diagnosed AIDS positive, the image of the AIDS Council among gays, the important role of AIDS Council' counselling and education of gay men in encouraging people to continue living productive lives, Des Perry (the Council's first Executive Officer), how the Board operates, the "gay mafia" within the Council, the effectiveness of the Federation of AIDS Organisations, the negativity of the media towards gay men, the role of the AIDS Trust of Australia, the AIDS Council and its funding. Lamb speaks about the controversy of the needle exchange program and the drug-users who exploit the Council's services and their resistance to AIDS education programs, security problems at the AIDS Council, the controversial move of the Council in late 1988, the continuing view of the AIDS Council as a gay organisation, the difficulties in tracing AIDS carriers vs. their legal rights, the resentment among gays towards Michele Kosky's broad-based programs, the effect of funding difficulties on the the Council and its members, and the past and future role of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations. • Recorded on Nov. 10 & 12, 1993. • Digital master available National Library of Australia;