Kenn Basham interviewed by James Waites

Kenn Basham, born 1959, discusses growing up in a rural environment; his sisters; schooling including the difficult times at high school; sex education; puberty; joining the Public Service in Canberra; his current 21 year relationship; his Nurse training and positions held; Gay-related immune deficiency (GRID); the birth of the Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) Council; AIDS Action Council of ACT opening (1985) with government grants; his diagnosis (1985); needle exchanges; Drug Referral and Information Centre (1986); working in a non-medicated detox unit, official funding; partying and drug use in Sydney; AIDS Coalition To Unleash Power (ACT UP) (1986-88) and its origins; the introduction of Azido-Thymidine (AZT) (1988-89); a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) protest; his involvement in ACT UP; his move from Gay activism to HIV activism; demonstrations; Bill Whittaker. Basham discusses ACT UP in Canberra; effectiveness of TGA action; Sydney AIDS Conference action; his personal impact on conference; a highlight of life as an activist; action in Tasmania, people with the virus represented for first time; the beginning of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), first meeting; 'Talk to me, not about me' badge; HIV + people becoming visible, positive people deciding to join forces: the emergence of PLWHA, a Canberra support group; his poster collection; campaigns; Parliament House protest; AIDS Conference in Canberra; his health these days; neurologist; (Prof) Dr Bruce Brew; new medical aspects to long term HIV illness; reviewing years of employment; mental attitude and immune well-being, reasons for living; HIV education and his role as an educator. Timed summary (8 p.) and uncorrected transcript (typescript, 112 leaves)