Walking For Hope Of A United Australia

Campaigners of Walk for Yes 2023 assembled at Bluewater Quay on Sunday, September 17 to share stories of unity and reconciliation, before heading off for a walk across Forgan Bridge to show their support of the ‘Yes’ vote in the upcoming referendum.

Mackay for Yes is a growing group of volunteers aiming to achieve a ‘Yes’ vote to support and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in the Australian Constitution, which will be voted for on October 14.

Walk for Yes 2023 has received interest Australia-wide, with the main goal of the events being to encourage the public to vote and to garner a wider audience of supporters for the ‘Yes’ option.

In a matter of weeks, the nation will head to the polls, with tensions rising between voters.

The consensus from the ‘No’ party is that there is inadequate information about what ‘the voice’ will achieve, and that it will cause further division and racism in Australia.

The 'No' campaign is ‘Australians for Unity.’ This campaign is led by Shadow Indigenous Australians Minister Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price and Nyunggai Warren Mundine. In May 2023, Price and Mundine merged their respective ‘No’ campaigns, ‘Fair Australia’ and ‘Recognise a Better Way.’

Arguments for the 'No' vote include that the Voice won’t deliver meaningful change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, or that Sovereignty and Treaty should be prioritised ahead of a Voice to Parliament.

At Mackay’s ‘Yes’ walk, a resident of Mackay and speaker, Rev. Keith McCollim, said he wants to see a positive change brought forward within his lifetime.

Keith acknowledges his privilege and lack of awareness in his early years about First Nations people and their rich cultural connection to Australia.

“What did we learn about the first nations people when we were young?

“Absolutely nothing. Not a thing was taught to us in school.”

Keith said, “If not now, when will it ever be?

“I want to see it in my lifetime, now is the time. I encourage each of you to do what you can to talk to people, dispel the fear and doubt to do with the Yes vote.”

Yes23 volunteer Peter McCallum said, “I’m involved in this campaign to see hope that my children can be proud of what is achieved in this country as a very progressive nation, and I think we are.”

“Although there are some who have self-interest at heart and want to fear and doubt, we are starting to see people recognising those feelings, and want to find out more about why [voting] ‘Yes’ is a good thing to do.

“I think that in the next four weeks, if we are all involved in this campaign, with tens of thousands of Australians supporting, we will shift those views under the weight of the ‘No’ campaign.”

To find out more information about Yes23’s campaign efforts, visit their website at yes23.com.au. For more information on the referendum, visit voice.gov.au.

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Michelle McKenzie, Brooke McReynolds, Mary Ann Baillie, Damien Walls, Kay Walls and Joy Walls. Photo credit: Sinead Porter

Margaret Doranti and Linda Campbell

Cath Hore and Ella Hore

Helen Taylor, Andrea Orr and Alexis Brodie

South Sea Islander speakers, Zelda Quakawoot and Seini Willett

Peter McCallum holding up banner to encourage volunteers

Parade of campaigners walking across Forgan Bridge

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