Queensland Positive People is enormously saddened to acknowledge the passing of David Polson AM, aged 70.
David was one of the first 400 Australians to be diagnosed with HIV. He also was one of Australia’s first HIV advocates, pledging on the day of his diagnosis that he would do anything he could to help medical science increase its knowledge. Since that moment in 1984, David participated in 28 drug trials, many the earliest of their kind in Australia, and many with side effects often worse than the disease.
He not only made a difference putting his life on the line for the advancement of treatment research, but David also devoted his life to be an advocate, speaker and role model for people living with HIV, using his lived experience as a long-term survivor to educate, empower and to challenge stigma and discrimination.
In 2023, David was acknowledged and celebrated at the Australia Day Honours for his “significant service to community health through HIV education and advocacy roles”, with the Member of the Order of Australia (AM).
Among David’s many contributions to community, he was an Ambassador for the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation, a Community Ambassador for the Bobby Goldsmith Foundation, a member of the Positive Life NSW Speakers Bureau, and Emeritus Founding Chair of QTOPIA Sydney. He was honoured as a Community Champion in the 2021 inaugural NAPWHA/Gilead Science awards and a worthy recipient of the HIV Hero Award in 2023, presented by Positive Life NSW at the ACON Honours Awards.
Those who knew David best, revelled in his sense of humour, his kind-hearted nature, and his strength of character. We as a community will always be indebted to David for his four decades of service, courage, bravery, and contributions to advance science and improve the lives of people living with HIV.
Professor Carla Treloar AM in her tribute to David said “He died as he lived, fighting valiantly until the end, in the care of St Vincent’s Hospital, where he had spent so much time. He was surrounded by those who knew and loved him best.”
David is survived by his sister Ruth Henning, his brother-in-law Evan Henning, his nephews William and Edward, his close cousin Cecily Polson and his life friends Peter Campbell, Amanda Findlay, and Greg Woods.
David’s loss is felt deeply here at QPP, and across the nation within the many organisations and lives he has made a difference to. Vale David.
