By the time many of you read this we will know the outcome of the Indigenous Voice Referendum. Let us trust that kindness and decency has prevailed,and our country has voted YES. How grand if after 250 years since the first British settlers arrived we have listened properly to the traditional owners who have been here for 65,000 years.
Today I was ‘Booth Captain’ for the Yes campaign at North Bruny which is a grand term for handing out how to vote forms in, at times, bitterly cold and sleety weather with my friend Sue. I also got to assemble the core flute signs ( which blew away more than once) and ensure we were beyond the prescribed 6 metres from the entrance to the polling place.
I have always loved helping at elections, there is such a community feel about them; a chance to catch up with friends and neighbours and make new connections. Today was no different and I feel full of social connectedness. In my experience there is also often a certain bonhomie between the helpers for the different political parties with a sharing of snacks and jokes. Today only the Yes camp was present.
The polling place was the CWA Hall (Country Women’s Association for non-Aussie readers) which sits at the junction of several roads amidst bucolic farmland. Almost all voters arrived by car giving us time to prepare for each arrival.
And so now we wait. Since Federation there have been 44 referendums and only 8 have been carried. The last referendum was in November 1999 when we voted on the establishment of a republic. I remember doing the pre-closing time shift (4-6pm) at Glenroi Public School in Orange. At about 5.30pm a flurry of voters appeared from the nearby pub ad one elderly lady made her way up the ramp. ‘Which of youse is handing out how to votes so we can get rid of the bastards who killed Diana?’, she asked. Without hesitation the man from the No campaign ( who as it happens has a Bruny connection) pointed at me and said ‘Madam, I think this lady will be able to assist, and on that particular issue I am in agreement with you’. She took my proffered piece of paper and continued inside. We lost that one but live to fight another day.
How blessed are we to live in a democracy.
An Island Off an Island 
You are a good girl for braving the elements to hand out information at the local CWA hall. Glenn & I cast our ‘yes’ votes at a local early voting centre up the road last week. We can but hope that common sense prevails & the scare tactics of the ‘No’ vote advocates don’t sway those who really don’t understand the situation at all. We will know soon enough as it’s totally cut & dried.
Home to a nice drop & a cooked dinner? That’s what we’re doing. Will keep a keen eye on the voting results.
XX
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And what a devastating result. I am saddened by the outcome.
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