Docklands to paint the town red

Thousands of people are expected to visit Docklands next month when the AIDS 2014 conference is held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The event will be the largest health conference ever hosted in Australia and is expected to attract 14,000 participants.

These include journalists, scientists and leaders from 200 countries, with Bill Clinton and Sir Bob Geldof last month announced as speakers.

The 20th international AIDS conference runs from July 20 to July 25 and the five-day program involves presentations on new scientific knowledge along with discussions around the major issues facing the global response to HIV.

Outside of the conference program, the City of Melbourne has developed a cultural program of more than 160 events.

When launching the cultural program last month, Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said this would include many prominent buildings being lit up in red.

“In a spectacular show of support, 45 of the city’s most prominent buildings will be flood lit red at night, including Arts Centre Melbourne, Parliament House, Melbourne Town Hall and the Melbourne Star Observation Wheel.”

“Our city is well known for being one of the most open, tolerant and welcoming places in the world. We want to show our visitors that wherever they go in Melbourne, we are painting the town red in their honour.”

Harbour Town, Wonderland Fun Park, Alumbra and the Icehouse will also be lit up in red throughout the conference. Docklands News' masthead is red in this edition in support of the event.

On Friday, July 18 the Docklands winter fireworks will turn red to celebrate the beginning of the conference.

Docklands’ new Library at the Dock will also host panel discussion The Female Agenda: Global Perspectives on Feminine Identities, Reproductive Rights and Sexual Health on July 22. The event will run from 7.30pm – 9pm and is free to attend.

Docklands Chamber of Commerce has been working on building awareness of the conference amongst its members over the past three months and chamber president Joh Maxwell said many members would be involved.

“We’re hoping to have plenty of visitors in Docklands during the conference,” she said.

“We’re looking for the businesses and residents in Docklands to really get behind it and support this event.”