John Lawrence Nash
John was born the third son of Rhonda and Harry, in Whangarei on December 1, 1954. He was educated at St Mary’s Primary from 1960 to 1965. His family then moved to Auckland, and John finished his primary schooling at Marist Sisters School, Mt Albert. In 1966 he went to St Peter’s, completing the seventh form in 1972. From there he went to Otago University for three years endeavouring to do a medical degree but changed to unsuccessfully complete a degree in microbiology and immunology!
He laboured in various jobs, factories, DYC, and so on. He then moved to Sydney in 1977 but lack of work forced him back after 10 months. He started a lawn mowing round of 26 lawns, as well as shift work at DYC.
In 1978 he moved to Melbourne, living in the South Melbourne area. He had problems getting a job in the laboratory field, so opted to do a manager’s course with KFC. John quickly rose to a manager and then on to Area Manager with several stores under his care. During the latter part of this job, in 1984, he was diagnosed HIV positive.
In 1985 he and John Matson opened “The Sandwich Surgery” in the London Mall in central Melbourne. This was a very good business with intense work required. They sold and dissolved the partnership voluntarily in 1986. Then in 1987, he bought a Red Spot Chicken store in Melton, about 45 km out of Melbourne. Unfortunately, this business was not successful for various reasons, ending in bankruptcy in 1988. There was much trauma as a result. John drove a taxi in the evening to recoup the money, but his health deteriorated, developing into AIDS in February 1989.
He returned home to New Zealand in December 1989 and was nursed by his family until he died May 6, 1990, at the age of 35.
John’s whole life revolved around racehorses and racetracks from an early age. He had shares with two others in a trotting horse called “Trio’s Risk”. He won them five or six races before breaking down.
John had several old clocks of which he was very proud.
He loved daffodils, of which he grew many in pots. Everyone seemed to flower for him. Yellow for friendship, he said.
The Kentucky Fried Chicken emblem of his workplace.
The kiwi, of which he was always proud.
Strangely enough, for many years John said he planned to retire at 35.
A lovely memorial created by John and Charlie, of which they have another on the Melbourne Quilt. Neither of these guys had used a sewing machine before.
We have also received this photo of John (light stripe down centre is on the original):
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Phillip Bailey
Phillip was born in Upper Hutt in 1946, the second of six children in his family.
He excelled in water sports and attended the 1986 Gay Olympics in San Francisco as a diver representing New Zealand.
He began a business at age 22 as a hairdresser, ‘Phillips’ in Milford, Auckland.
He won the top prizes in the New Zealand Hairdressing Championships in 1970-1972, and then went on to the UK and Europe in 1974.
He returned to New Zealand in the 1980s, setting up a salon in Cuba Mall, which he operated until his death in 1989.
He felt passionate about many causes, including the abolition of the death penalty, and many other issues that he felt offended his civil libertarian ideals.
His family always supported him and he is remembered with great love and affection not only by them but also by the many whose lives he touched and enriched.
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Frederick Bulsara (Freddie Mercury)
Sadly, at the time of setting up this website, we have no information about this panel.
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Patrick McGregor
Sadly, at the time of setting up this website, we have no information about this panel.
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Rex Pekin and Bob Warren
Sadly, at the time of setting up this website, we have no information about this panel.
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Sallie
Sadly, at the time of setting up this website, we have no information about this panel.
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Neil Costelloe
For some years there was no story to accompany this panel, however Kat, one of Neil’s lifelong friends, has written:
The quilt was made in 1991 by Kat Hall, Sally Hunter, Neil Anderson, Bayly Watson, Janet Dunn, Jane Costello (Neil’s sister) and other anonymous friends. The idea to make this quilt came from some of us who were unable to say our goodbyes to Neil when he died in London in 1990.
The litho-screened parts of the picture include:
- The male symbol background in red and blue, which Sally and Kat took off a print that Neil had made himself during his early years whilst studying graphic design at the then Wellington Polytechnic.
- The four God Bless Us Nelly Queen’s prints, which are taken off three larger original prints that Neil had made. The symbol is the Lamba symbol and the phrase refers to his Catholic background and his gay identity.
The photographs were organised by Bayly and refer to:
- Neil with boxing gloves on the front page of the Pink Triangle magazine, which symbolises some gay bashing episodes he suffered. Neil also redesigned the logo and design format of Pink Triangle.
- Neil and his partner David in London, either in 1989 or early 1990
- Neil at his Primary School in Porirua, aged 8.
- Neil arrested during the Homosexual Law Reform Campaign. The photograph is on his Obituary page in the Pink Triangle magazine.
An anonymous friend who used to fly kites with Neil made the kite.
The words:
- Kumura Junction refers to where he was born, although, he spent some of his childhood growing up in Titahi Bay, now part of Porirua, Wellington.
- Wellington, where he came out and spent his early years as a gay man.
- Paris where he commuted to see his partner David.
- London where he lived his life from 1987 until his death.
Leather was chosen for the words, as it symbolised the leather jackets that he wore in London.
Kat Hall
May 2012
Alison added this memory for Neil:
Neil Costelloe was one of the most important activists during the Homosexual Law Reform Campaign, 1985-1986. The NZ lesbian and gay communities owe this heroic and courageous man a great deal of gratitude. I remember Neil and Shane Towns, also lost to AIDS and other gay activists at the wonderful Pipitea Street (Wellington) house. So many actions planned there, many by Neil Costelloe.
Always remembered.
Added December 2015
Maurice added this memory for Neil:
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‘The Touch Panel’
The Touch Massage Panel was the idea of Darren Horn and Peggy Dawson, who provided Touch Massage for many people living with HIV and AIDS, both in the hospital and their homes.
The daisies were a favourite flower of Darren’s. The petals carry the names of people either Darren or Peggy worked with.
The jewels are for the preciousness of each person.
Darren has since died of an AIDS-related condition himself (4 September 1993), and it is difficult for me to know exactly what he would have said, or wanted to say about this panel. Perhaps, that each of the people it was his privilege to have encountered enriched his life and assisted him with his own journey.
Darren Horn (September 1993) and Stephen Maxted (May 1993), his partner, fill the final two petals.
Nicki Eddy
Those remembered are (in no particular order):
- Ken
- Bob
- Maurice
- Archie
- Spring
- Rick
- Peter Taylor
- Roy Ormsby
- R…
- Murray
- Mervyn
- John
- Charles
- Brian
- Robin Murie
- Peter and David (Oz)
- A…
- Sydney
- Noddy
- Rudi
- Kombo
- John Nash
- David Wood
- Michael Hansen
- Kirt
- Ray
- Frank
- Trevor
- Mark
- Neville (Oz)
- Roderick Horn
- Richard Noonan
- Lynn
- Garry
- Brian
- Nigel
- Brett
- Peter Swainson
- Steve Maxted
- Darren Bruce Horn
- Nepia
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Other photos of this block
Panels in this Block
| Panel Name | Life Years | Panel Link |
|---|---|---|
| ‘The Touch Panel’ | View Panel › | |
| Frederick Bulsara (Freddie Mercury) | 1946 - 1991 | View Panel › |
| John Lawrence Nash | 1 December 1954 - 6 May 1990 | View Panel › |
| Neil Costelloe | 22 August 1960 - 8 April 1990 | View Panel › |
| Patrick McGregor | View Panel › | |
| Phillip Bailey | 1946 - 1989 | View Panel › |
| Rex Pekin and Bob Warren | View Panel › | |
| Sallie | Died 1990 | View Panel › |
