Luncheon Club’s changing of the guard

Many of her clients face the challenges of poverty, depression and illiteracy in addition to their illness. For the past 15 years, dedicated volunteers have run the charity but now the delivery of services has been handed over to ACON (AIDS Council of NSW) and the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, which have the resources and professional staff to ensure the Luncheon Club is guaranteed a long-term future.

Ms King started the Luncheon Club in 1993, as remedy during a difficult period of her life when she was losing a number of her dearest and closest friends to the AIDS virus. At the first luncheon, just intended to be a one-off, she stated, “We are not going to talk about death, dying, funerals or wakes. We are going to live from AIDS, rather than die from AIDS.”

Since that first luncheon her original philosophy has never wavered. The simple act of providing a home-cooked meal and respite from the psychological demands of the illness for those living with the virus proved instantly popular.

Performers were also sometimes provided to give a cabaret feel to the event, “to bring the nightlife to daylight hours” because often those attending could not afford to go out. 89 attended the first event, now 15 years on the weekly luncheon averages 180 people.

The charity also operates a larder of dry-store food items to assist those living with HIV/AIDS on a pension, and has celebratory events such as the upcoming “Christmas in July”.

Ms King believes she has gotten much more out of the club than the countless numbers of hours she has given. She says the positives of the past 15 years would not have been possible without the team of inspirational volunteers, many of whom are also clients, who give their time out of caring and love to keep the charity in operation. She gave thanks to those in the community who give money, time, clothes and food to the cause. Even a feather boa was donated which made its way to an appreciative recipient.

Vicky Coumbe, Team Leader of Positive Services, ACON, agreed that the volunteers are the “heart and soul of the charity – they have been fabulous” and that the intention of ACON is to give the Luncheon Club a more formalised future, but not to make any changes. “We just want to keep it running,” she says, three weeks into the handover.  

Ms King’s future plans will still involve the Luncheon Club and she maintains she will always be there for the clients. But she may have time now to write a book about the experience, titled Living With Glitter That Didn’t Always Shine. “In the gay community one sees the glitter and the beautiful bodies and the shine but there is another side,” she says, in reference to the impact of the virus. 

To sum up what she has learned over the 15 years she advised, “not to be so judgemental, we are all equal beings on this gorgeous planet. It doesn’t matter how much talent or money you have, when you are on the bed and taking your final breath, you are all equal.”

Despite the time that has passed since HIV/AIDS was first diagnosed Ms Coumbe of believes that a stigma remains and that as a result people are still cautious about who they disclose to, and therefore are also cautious about accessing services. “Not enough attention is drawn to HIV as a condition that affects all of society, it is still considered a marginalised condition,” she said.

The contact number to access ‘Positive Services’ at ACON is 9699 8756.

The website for the Luncheon Club is www.luncheonclub.org.au

Photo: Ali Blogg - Caption: Carole Ann King (sitting on the floor) and Luncheon Club volunteers