13/10/2023
A Simple Yes from the Heart of Community
It’s a simple solution to a complex problem. Compassion is to see the suffering of others and be motivated to do something to alleviate it. It's more than just a value, it's a willingness to take action. Right now, we are being asked to see the long-term suffering of our Aboriginal brothers and sisters.
The Uluru Statement from the Heart was written by Indigenous communities, not politicians. It is an invitation to us, the people of Australia, asking for our compassion to walk together in unity. They ask us to recognise, listen and protect their futures by simply giving them a Voice to parliament.
Individuals and local communities are actively showing their willingness to alleviate the suffering of others. Yes23 is an Indigenous-led organisation that also has a following of tens of thousands of non-indigenous supporters right across Australia.
And here, in the electorate of Indi, there are hundreds of volunteers proudly displaying Yes badges, T-shirts, caps and corflutes in the streets of local towns. Weeks ago, a volunteer group opened a Yes23 Hub at Wangaratta, so as to provide a respectful, safe place for community members to share concerns, build greater understanding and discuss points of view.
Who are these volunteers? To name just a few, the local Wangaratta volunteers are people like Heather, Ruth and Mary who open the doors of the Hub. Sylvia who is changing the window displays, and Julie who is making badges. People like, Jo, Jill, Frank and Jim keep smiling at the PrePolls and Clare and Neil are in the town having friendly chats. Pip, Anne and Loretta are sorting the rosters. Russell, Rob, Susan and Mandy are co-ordinating the gatherings. They’ve all got their hearts in it, motivated for a change that creates fairness and equity.
Volunteers are having heart-to-heart conversations about what recognition and a Voice truly means. They are speaking to community members, Aboriginal people, friends, family, co-workers, neighbours. They are walking the streets, delivering thousands of information booklets to get simple, clear and real messages out to people who have become confused with all the political and media noise.
Recent research shows, that when individuals are stimulated by threat, it gets in the way of them being generous to others, becoming more likely to be oppositional and less likely to be compassionate. When most people actually learn what the Voice to Parliament really is, they support it. The simple facts of this referendum are that there is a specific constitutional amendment, to add a Voice from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People to simply advise Parliament on issues that affect them specifically (it is not a decision-making body). Many people still don’t know these things, or are confused by misinformation.
Change can be hard, but change is what has been requested of us. Thousands of people are already thinking with their hearts and opening their minds towards saying Yes. They can even change from No to Yes.
Cultivating compassion improves our community wellbeing. On October 14 we all have the opportunity to step up and take compassionate action for our First Peoples of Australia.
We are on our last walk now to the polls with a belief in being kind, creating a better future for our great-grandchildren who will inherit the impact of our decision.
We have an opportunity to walk forward for a better future together.
Writing Yes on your ballot paper makes the opportunity a reality.
