Qtopia quilt

QuiltNSW is an inclusive organisation and we welcome everyone. June is Pride month, when the LGBTQIA+ community is celebrated, focusing on visibility, arts and community resilience. It is an appropriate time to share Danuta Aaron’s story about her Qtopia quilt.

“In December 2023, I was invited to a thank-you lunch at St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst,” she says. “It was given by the Curran Foundation, for the benefactors. By chance, I was seated next to David Polson AM, who was wearing a t-shirt with the letter ‘Q’ displayed in the design.”

Danuta quipped to David that ‘Q’ is for quilting and he replied that no, ‘Q’ is for queer.

They talked about how David wanted to establish a space to honour the history of those affected by HIV/AIDS. In  February 2024, Sydney’s first Queer Museum ‘Qtopia Sydney’ opened in Darlinghurst and David was the Emeritus Founding Chair.

“I asked David if I could obtain a t-shirt and offered to make a quilted wall hanging for the opening of the Queer Museum,” she says. “He was delighted with the idea. I received copyright permission and had the design on the t-shirt enlarged at Officeworks to make the templates for the quilt. I found fabric with the same colours as used on the t-shirt.”

David Polson and Danuta Aaron in front of Danuta’s quilt

The completed quilt measures 1.5 metres by 1 metre. It was machine quilted by Rebecca Rae and features the word ‘qtopia’ stitched within the letter ‘Q’.

David Polsen was one of the first 400 men diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Australia and underwent 28 HIV drug trials, which is the most undertaken by a person living with HIV globally at the end of 1980s.

David was passionate about educating the fight against HIV and his aim was to continue the vision of Professor David Cooper by creating a space to remember those affected by HIV/AIDS.  “Qtopia was opened in 2024 by the Prime Minister, and I was invited as a guest. I am proud to be a part of the museum,” Danuta says.

David Polson AM died in February 2025 and was given a State memorial in Sydney the following month. Danuta’s Qtopia quilt is on permanent display within the museum.