This year marks the 21st anniversary of the creation of World AIDS Day (December 1 worldwide) and even after 21 years HIV/AIDS is still an issue within the local, national and international community.

In 2009, in its 24th year of operation, the WA AIDS Council is still at the forefront of the battle that continues to rage around the world to combat HIV/AIDS. The red Ribbon is the internationally recognised symbol of HIV/AIDS and World AIDS Day is the one day of the year that each and every country undertakes awareness raising around this issue.

This morning both the WA AIDS Council and the people of Western Australia lost one of the great charity workers and social writers of the past 30 years.

Holly Wood was a tireless supporter of the work of the WA AIDS Council and was a founding member 24 years ago.  Last year he was honoured with Life Membership to the organisation in recognition of his long term support.

On June 16th 2009, the WA AIDS Council was named as co-winner of the ‘Community Idol’ award in Melbourne.  Over 400 very different community organisations from around Australia entered the award which whittled down to three finalists – WAAC, Edmund Rice Camps in South Australia and Cerebral Palsy Support Network in Victoria.

The WA AIDS Council (WAAC) is dedicated to increasing the accessibility and acceptability of sexual health services to same sex attracted men. For many years WAAC has been running a weekly Monday night testing clinic at Perth Steamworks. A couple of years ago the AIDS Council also opened a Monday to Friday testing clinic at the Murray St office.

STYLEAID is the annual fashion fundraising event for the WA AIDS Council and features many of the top designers in Perth whose designs take to the catwalk alongside a range of emerging designers with the aim to raise much needed funds for the Council.