Hardwick, Kevin

 

Kevin Hardwick (1948-)

Kevin Hardwick grew up in Sydney. He left school at 15 and began an apprenticeship as a hairdresser in Double Bay. When he moved to the Blue Mountains, he worked as a landscape gardener. Kevin’s childhood was scarred by the death of his father, and as a young adult he sought aversion therapy as a means of reconnecting with his family. In this interview, he describes his time at Prince Henry Hospital and the lasting negative impact aversion therapy had on his well-being. At 22, Kevin became involved in Gay Liberation and activism more generally, and he talks about the demonstration he participated in. Building a life in the Blue Mountains, Kevin’s activism continued as he established a PLWHA drop-in centre in Katoomba and helped to nurse people with HIV/AIDS. He helped establish Pink Mountains, a social networking site for LGBTIQ+ folk in the Mountains, and a Gay Men’s Group.

Photo: Supplied/Pink Mountains

 

Oral history recordings

 

Automated transcripts of our oral history interviews are available to researchers on request. For access, please contact us, stating the name of the interviewee, date of interview, and your purpose of use.

HPride History GroupConcord West Public School, Homebush Boys High School, Hairdressing, Double Bay, Capriccios, Les Girls, Chez Ivy, Purple Onion, aversion therapy, Prince Henry Hospital, Dr McConaghy, Dr Ross Chambers, St John of God Hospital, electric shock therapy, Gardening, Gay Liberation, Glebe, ABC, David McDiarmid, activism, Vietnam War, Springbok tour demonstration, HIV/AIDS, CSN, Ankali, PLWHA, Katoomba, Blue Mountains, Pink Mountains, Gay Men's Group, Three Sisters Social Group