POSITIVE WOMEN FAMILY HUI STRAIGHT ARROWS DINNERS A SUCCESSFUL EVENT
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ore than 75 people attended Positive Women’s family hui held near Matamata in early November, with lots of good feedback. Fine weather, a big turnout, and the way members took ownership of the hui - running activities like quiz night and helping volunteers - all added up to a successful event. It follows the first family hui run by Positive Women at the same camp two years ago. Attending their second family hui, Svadha’s family accounted for three generations with her daughters and grandchildren. Svadha felt the hui and venue were fantastic. There were plenty of activities for the children including a flying fox, kayaking and fishing. “I think 99 per cent of the people who went came back closer,” she says. “There was a real camaraderie happening, which was what also struck me about the first hui.” One personal highlight was her grandson catching an eel on a fishing rod he had never used before. The prized eel was then smoked and shared around. “Having it so fresh and knowing that my grandson caught it, made it taste like caviar,” Svadha says. Auckland hospital social worker Susan Mundt was one of several volunteers who looked after the children. “It was really lovely meeting some of the kids of our clients, and people from other parts of New Zealand,” she says. As a vegetarian, Susan gave eeling a miss but really enjoyed the flying fox and all the other activities. She is keen to return to help at the next family hui. “The whole weekend was a lot of fun.”
One couple’s story When Miranda and David took up an invitation to attend Positive Women’s family hui, they didn’t know what to expect.
“At first you’re wary,” Miranda says. “You think, what am I walking into? What sort of people are going to be here? Is it a medical conference? But you soon learn it’s a really good atmosphere to be around.” Miranda, who is HIV positive, has been married to David, who is HIV negative, for two years. They come from a small town where Miranda’s HIV status is a secret. “You can’t discuss it in your own community,” David says. “I don’t even tell my mother.” Attending the hui lifted the daily stress of keeping her HIV status a secret. “It’s a totally different atmosphere,” Miranda says. “When I was first diagnosed, I was really paranoid about anyone finding out. I’m not so worried now, but I’m still very wary about who knows my business. At the hui, the camouflage comes off, and it gives you a sense of freedom and belonging with people in the same situation as you.” “It’s like a weight taken off your shoulders,” David agrees. “The group discussions are really good for HIV negative people to have somewhere to go and people to talk to. You might not even want to talk the first time, just listen so you can get to grips with it all. I can’t imagine what it would be like for someone being diagnosed without that kind of support being around.” David and Miranda would like to see events like the family hui happening more often, as there is a lack of peer support outside of main centres. “There’s nothing available,” says Miranda. “In the bigger centres there are clinics, hospitals, seminars, people getting together, but out here you’re waiting for someone from a bigger city to come and visit you.” As well as making new friends and sharing common experiences, Miranda and David were inspired to make a life-changing decision by attending the hui. “When we got married, we didn’t think about having