UOW Students for ‘Yes’ held a BBQ on Tuesday to increase visibility and raise awareness about the upcoming referendum.
The event aimed to enlighten students before they make their vote on 14 October, and is particularly important, given that the Yes vote has slumped to a 47-53 loss to No votes, according to recent polls.
Callum Glasgow, the member of UOW Students for Yes who organised the BBQ, said that 86 per cent of indigenous people support the voice to parliament.
“Indigenous people have been speaking over 200 languages and never had a voice to parliament. It’s time to hold politicians accountable, and it is time to give indigenous people and their communities the representation they need,” Mr Glasgow said.
UOW student after receiving their free snag from the Students for ‘Yes’ BBQ
The Vote Yes barbeques will occur every Tuesday outside of the Library until the referendum.
“We’re going to have elders coming down and talking to people at the barbeque. (We want) people to see the barbeque as a very relaxed area. Everyone’s going to have something to eat, have a chat, to build up momentum for the upcoming referendum.”
Michael Valceski
Michael Valceski, Chairmen of UOW’s Student Advisory Council, also supports the events.
“This is a very important time for first nations communities, because it’s the next step in our nations journey towards reconciliation,” Mr Valceski said.
“This is ultimately about constitutional recognition and it’s about recognition through a voice because that’s what the Uluru statement to the heart called for,” he said.
“The statement is about (indigenous communities and elders) willingness to reconcile and asking all of us to join them on this journey. The voice is about listening.”
The Woolyungah Indigenous Centre (WIC) also held an event for Indigenous Literacy Week on Tuesday, taking the opportunity to raise awareness and spread cultural inclusion during a time where Indigenous communities and their rights are on the minds of every Australian.
The WIC team at the Indigenous Literacy Day stall
Eve Walker, Student ambassador for WIC, said that the university events offer an important opportunity for dialogue.
“Indigenous Literacy Week is a bunch of activities and workshops that we run for different age groups,” Ms Walker said.
“It’s all about development, cultural experience and understanding. Just advocating and encouraging students to learn.”
UOW Students for Yes and Woolyungah Indigenous Centre will continue to hold events as we approach the referendum date to further educate students and ensure every vote is an informed one.