The Hep C Community News began as a seven-page black and white newsletter in October 1997. Now, 26 years later, we’ve reached our 100th issue! You can read an in-depth interview with Hepatitis SA veterans Deborah Warneke-Arnold and Fred Robertson and browse the highlights here. We hope you enjoy them and if anything catches your interest, you can find every issue of this magazine at bit.ly/hcnstack. In this selection you’ll find a condensed history of both Hepatitis SA and developments in the world of viral hepatitis over the past two and a half decades, as we went from hepatitis C being a poorly understood virus to an easily curable one and hepatitis B a virus which all newborn Australians are routinely vaccinated against.
In the clippings below, click on the images to read the full original articles. Try our 100 Issues Quiz – you could win one of five $25 giftcards.
In the first edition of the Hep C Community News, the late Colin Harrow (our first paid employee) details the Hepatitis C Council’s setup and the formation of the new library. Colin enjoyed relating the story of his first day on the job—he was taken to a room the size of an average bathroom, jammed full of files, papers, folders, a phone, a PC and a fax, and told, “‘This is the Hep C Council. Go for it!”
Compare the world of 1997 (Issue 2 page 7) with the world of 2024.
From issue 7, in 1998, the beginnings of trained peer workers on our Info & Support Line.
Calls for submissions to the first National and State hepatitis C strategies in 1999 (issue 9)
From issue 12, in 2000, the first Hepatitis C Awareness Day in South Australia where Adelaide Lord Mayor, Jane Lomax-Smith launched the activities.
Also launched on that first South Australian Hepatitis C Awareness Day was HCCSA’s new brand new website. You can view an archived copy of that original site.
Coincidentally, nine years later, Dr. Jane Lomax-Smith, as Minister for Mental Health & Substance Abuse, again launched our Awareness campaign – and believe it or not, in that campaign, our made-over website was re-launched! (2009, issue 44)
Moving into a new home at The Parade (2000, Issue 14)
Reports of the behaviour of funeral parlors in 2001 (#16) shows how far we have come in the fight against stigma.
Combination therapy finally available for most on the PBS – 2001, issue 16.
The cover of issue 19 shows a busy year since the move. Ads inside show an established helpline and need for new staff in a growing organisation.
Early days of the vital Viral Hepatitis Nurses program – 2003, issue 22. In 2018 the Viral Hepatitis Nurses won a well-deserved SA Health award, 2019, issue 80.
A look at the absence of hep C representation in literature 2007, issue 36
The hugely successful ‘Chopped Liver’ tour in South Australia. The play about hepatitis C was created and performed by the indigenous, Melbourne-based Ilbijerri Theatre Company which worked HCCSA to bring the show to the state. (2007, Issue 38)
The Hepatitis SA Living Books, where our amazing peer educators could be ‘borrowed’ to talk about their lived experience. (2017, issue 74)
Telling the stories of people’ living with hepatitis has always been central to both our organisation and our magazine: here are examples from 2002 (issue 21), 2010 (issue 47), 2021 (issue 89) and 2024 (issue 100).
In this article from 2011 (issue 54), the availability and success rates of direct-acting antivirals against hepatitis C was predicted with surprising accuracy, even down to the year they would appear on the PBS—see story on the following page, from 2016 (issue 69).
Some of our many successful community projects (2011, issue 51; 2019, issue 82; 2018, issue 78)
The growth of Hepatitis SA engagement with indigenous health issues is reflected in Community News articles over the years, from a mention in a rural report (issue 14) and a resource write-up (issue 25), to frequent multi-page features in more recent issues. Click on the images to read the full stories.
In 2011, the Hepatitis C Council of South Australia became Hepatitis SA (issue 54), officially taking on hepatitis B as part of our scope of work.
Increased engagement with multicultural communities to raise awareness about hepatitis B, can be seen in the following articles in issues 72, 73 75 and 79. Click on the images to read the full stories.
In 2019, Hepatitis SA began organising community-based hepatitis B and C screening clinics – a first for the sector in South Australia. The page below from issue 84, is a visual summary of the journey from Sorry we don’t do testing to Yes we can test you.
The 2023 World Hepatitis Day Quiz – Life, Relationships and Hepatitis B – successfully engaged with at risk communities to produce engaging videos and resources. (Issue 99)
As the Community News develops to reflect changing situations, its pages carry more stories on research and development. This unusual piece is one of our most popular articles: new research showing the long prehistory of hepatitis B and humanity, stretching back over 10,000 years. (2022, issue 93).
Enjoy!
Now you’re done reading our history, test yourself with our simple 2-question quiz and go into the draw for one of five $25 vouchers.
