Peter Charles Harthoorn – Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt panel

Quilt panel, part of Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt, in memory of 'Peter Charles Harthoorn', cotton / wool / ink / metal / synthetic fabric / silk, various makers, Queensland, about 1991 Rectangular quilt panel, portrait orientation, in the form of a stained glass window with various panes or panels. At the top of the panel, the figure of a bike rider is appliqued in blue silk with black lycra pants. The rider's hair is formed from braid. The wheels are dolphins also in blue silk. The panes or panels on the left hand side are headed by an owl in a fabric material with 'copper' eyes, nose and claws. The panel below that has the following names embroidered on it: Doug, Mum, Jane, St John, Tina, Jim, Stephen, Anna, Mandy (with a paw outline). Below that is a musical score (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - see production notes) embroidered on orange fabric. At the bottom on the left hand side is a cricket bat and ball appliqued on to a maroon background with the stumps embroidered in satin stitch. On the margin on the left hand edge three dragons are appliqued. At the top right hand corner there is an appliqued butterfly. Below it on the right hand side there is series of panes or panels containing: an appliqued boater; a yacht, Nelion, appliqued with embroidered waves; an appliqued map of Africa in tie dye material on a pink background. The bottom panel contains a silver satin chalice with a silver communion wafer and a silver dove in the right hand corner. On the far right hand edge are three sea horses. At the bottom of the panel, 'Peter Charles Harthoorn 1956 - 1985' is embroidered in stem stitch above an appliqued sleeping figure. Between the two panels there is a strip of dark green fabric. There is a black outline of a guitar with the crocheted stops of the guitar at the top of the panel and the six strings of the guitar leading to six golden bells, one of which is turned upside down. This quilt is in memory of Peter Charles Harthoorn (b. 1956 d. 1985). Peter was born in Uganda and lived there for 14 years. He went to school in England, Winchester School. He was a barrister who worked in Legal Aid (see extract from A. Yardley, Unfolding, McPhee Gribble, 1994, p. 87). His death was the first AIDS death in Townsville, Queensland.