Steve McKenny – Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt panel

Quilt panel, part of Australian AIDS Memorial Quilt, in memory of Stephen McKenny, 'FOR STEVE MCKENNY WITH LOVE', taffeta / cotton / synthetic fibre, made by family, London, England, 1992-1993 Rectangular panel, portrait orientation. Panel is divided in half to represent the sea and sky with an appliquéd image of yacht sailing to horizon. On the yacht's sail there is an appliquéd butterfly and the dates 1968-1991. On the yacht's hull is embroidered 'Piano-Man'. Synthetic fibre is placed to represent waves. The sun is represented in the top right corner by a yellow quadrant with the words 'Friends, Family' and with radiating words 'Writing, Computers, Facts, Conversation, Groups, Composition, Music, Adventure, Books, Swimming'. At the bottom is an appliquéd panel with the inscription 'FOR STEVE MCKENNY WITH LOVE' over a musical staff with notes. This panel was made by Stephen's Aunt Lorna (Lorna Aplin). This panel depicts a sailing boat. It was made in London. After Stephen's death, Lorna returned immediately to London. In this way she was separated from the support of Stephen's family and friends. Stephen's death had a big impact on Lorna. Soon after she returned to England she made her panel for the AIDS quilt. Lorna was the sole maker of this panel. Lorna's panel for Stephen depicts a sailing boat. The chosen motif was partly to represent the sailing holiday Stephen took with his friends in the Whitsunday Islands, but more to represent Stephen's questing and hopeful spirit. The name of the boat is 'Piano Man', representing Stephen's love of music. The words embroidered around the sun in the upper right of the panel represent aspects of Stephen's life and interests. The information is received from Carolyn McKenny. The maker of this quilt panel is Lorna who was Stephen's aunt and Carolyn's sister. Stephen and Carolyn went to London to visit Lorna in 1990. They stayed with her for a month - a very special time in all their lives. Stephen knew from an early age that life wasn't fair. He didn't expect it to be. When Stephen developed HIV he was very positive in his outlook and determined to beat the effects of the virus (until the last few months). Even in hospital in the last few weeks he would be angry with people who talked of 'tragedy' - tragedy, Stephen believed, was people dying in countries where no medical assistance was available or where they were not surrounded by loving friends and family. In the last stages of Stephen's illness in late 1991, Lorna dropped everything and flew from London to Canberra. Stephen wished to die at home, so family and close friends (who became known as “the Steve group”) maintained a 24 hour vigil, supported by the ACT palliative care team. Lorna took over the practical activities and kept the household running. Stephen (or Steve as he was known from his teenage years) was a remarkable young man who lived his short life with enthusiasm, courage and commitment. Stephen was born with severe haemophilia, a genetic bleeding disorder. The main effects of haemophilia are damage to joints which have been affected by internal bleeding. During Stephen's lifetime, haemophilia was treated by blood products derived from blood donations to the Red Cross. Stephen acquired HIV through blood products, some time in the early 1980s, before heat treatment was introduced to make the blood supply safe. Stephen's parents believe that he would have said he had a good life. He was a cheerful person with a great sense of humour - very well adjusted, even though all his life he was hampered by haemophilia. (For example from the age of about 14, he was friend, an affectionate son and a loving younger brother to Brian (who had gone to Adelaide to study medicine by the time Stephen was infected with HIV). Stephen's main love was music. He played a number of interests but in later years concentrated on the piano and electronic keyboard. He composed music, had a particular flair for improvisation and was a key member of a number bands. He was also a highly intelligent person with interests in science, computing and philosophy. In 1989 he completed a Bachelor of Science at the Australian National University. Because of his illness he was unable to seek full time employment but he worked part time playing piano at restaurants and aged care facilities. Stephen was also a committed community volunteer. He was vice president of the Haemophilia Association of ACT and active in the AIDS Action Council of the ACT. He was particularly involved with their safe sex campaigns and went out to high schools and colleges playing music, singing humorous songs and spreading the message about safe sex. Stephen, as a result of his activism and his involvement in music, had friends across all age groups and was admired by many. Articles about Stephen appeared in publications, for example The Canberra Times, both before and after his death.