Anglican leaders gather with hundreds of other community leaders for the QCA's Final Voice Sprint
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Over 300 community leaders recently gathered in St John’s Cathedral for a Queensland Community Alliance assembly in support of constitutional recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through a Voice to Parliament
Over 300 community leaders from across Southern Queensland gathered at St John’s Cathedral last week to formally commit their support to constitutional recognition of Indigenous peoples through a Voice to Parliament in the lead up to the historic 14 October referendum.
The Indigenous and non-Indigenous leaders who gathered at the Tuesday 5 September community assembly — dubbed the “Final Voice Sprint” — heard from high-profile speakers, including Torres Strait Islander Elder and 2021 Queensland Senior Australian of the Year Aunty Dr Rose Elu and Multicultural Australia CEO Christine Castley about the importance of the referendum.
Aunty Dr Rose Elu explained to those gathered about how constitutional recognition through a Voice will unify the country.
“Over 90 per cent of voters voted ‘yes’ in the 1967 referendum in what became a watershed moment in our shared history, especially in the way it united us,” Aunty Rose said.
“The forthcoming referendum about recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution through a pragmatic Voice to Parliament builds on the remarkable legacy of the 1967 referendum.
“A successful referendum this year will unite the unique strengths of all our knowledges and ways, and it will unite our stories.”
Torres Strait Islander Elder and 2021 Queensland Senior Australian of the Year Aunty Dr Rose Elu addresses Queensland Community Alliance members at St John’s Cathedral on 5 September 2023
Participants also heard from various leaders about what they have already implemented and what they have planned, and also engaged in small group discussions about why the referendum is important to them and their communities.
As a member of the ACSQ’s Social Responsibilities Committee (SRC), Priest-in-Charge of The Parish of Goodna and Archdeacon of Oxley The Ven. Bronwyn Pagram said she was pleased to announce further commitments on behalf of the SRC at the assembly.
“There were about 20 Anglicans at the assembly who came in response to an invitation from the SRC,” The Ven. Bronwyn said.
“The first commitment was about how many people we would reach via our routine communication channels, and we estimated 13,000 for the ministries and communities we collaborate with, including our Diocese’s Justice Unit, Angligreen and St John’s Cathedral, among others,” The Ven. Bronwyn said.
“The second commitment was for each of us present to have personal conversations with other people we encounter between now and referendum day.
“Many committed to have one conversation a day about constitutional recognition of Indigenous peoples through a pragmatic Voice to Parliament until the referendum — all up we committed to 500 personal conversations.
“I think we sometimes underestimate the power of making promises to each other and I pray the commitments made will help underpin the final energy needed to proceed.
“Hearing highly respected First Nations peoples, including our own Aunty Dr Rose Elu, share stories about why the Voice matters to them personally and to their communities was a definite highlight of the evening.
“Coming together for this Voice ‘sprint’ was a fantastic opportunity for broad community members to encourage and plan conversations for the next five weeks.”
Priest-in-Charge of The Parish of Goodna and Archdeacon of Oxley The Ven. Bronwyn Pagram addressing the QCA Final Voice Sprint peoples assembly at St John’s Cathedral on 5 September 2023
For Anglicare Southern Queensland Director of Mission, Research and Advocacy Dr Stephen Harrison, who represented his organisation at the gathering, it was a positive sign seeing the strength and wide array of community organisations at the assembly.
“It feels like the next five weeks will be critical in determining the outcome of the referendum, and the Voice Sprint was important in drawing together supporters from many communities, energising and focusing them for the work ahead,” Dr Harrison said.
“The highlight of the evening was hearing the roll call of organisations present and committed to supporting the Voice — it was wonderful to see so many community organisations coming together for a common cause.”
On behalf of Anglicare, Dr Stephen Harrison committed to communicating with 30,000 people the social services organisation connects with on a regular basis at the QCA peoples assembly in the Cathedral on 5 September 2023
On behalf of Anglicare, Dr Harrison committed to communicating with 30,000 people the social services organisation connects with on a regular basis.
Dr Harrison also committed to speaking with 150 people through one-to-one or small group conversations in the lead up to referendum day on Saturday 14 October.
Bishop Daniel Abot and The Rev’d Gary Tognola from St Bart’s, Mt Gravatt joined in the QCA Final Voice Sprint peoples assembly at St John’s Cathedral on 5 September 2023
As Multicultural Australia CEO Christine Castley addressed the gathering, it was a firm reminder of the historic nature of the referendum and a motivational call to everyone about what’s at stake in the final weeks of campaigning.
“We are now in the final sprint to the polling booths,” Ms Castley said.
“It is well and truly time for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to be recognised in Australia’s 122-year-old Constitution.
“Giving constitutional recognition to the Voice will ensure real experts in communities — grassroots Indigenous people — can advise Parliament and governments of day.
“The constitution is a document belonging to all the Australian people.
“This is the most important conversation and decision this generation of Australians will ever make — about the future of just who we are as a nation.
“Multicultural Australia and the Queensland Community Alliance will stand steadfast as allies to the First Nations people of this country.
“One of the fundamental beliefs of both our organisations is that people deserve a say in the decisions that affect their lives.”
Multicultural Australia CEO Christine Castley addressing the QCA Final Voice Sprint peoples assembly at St John’s Cathedral on 5 September 2023
An alliance of 37 member organisations from Christian churches, including the Anglican Church Southern Queensland (through the Social Responsibilities Committee and the Parishes of Logan and Mt Gravatt) and other faith groups, community organisations, ethnic associations and unions, the Queensland Community Alliance has been hosting group conversations around the state over many months.
These conversations include education about the precise constitutional wording and the two pages of design principles the Government released and committed to in March to ensure the wider community heads to the polling booths informed and engaged.
Editor’s note: This anglican focus feature, written by The Ven. Geoff Hoyte, The Rev’d Michael Stalley and The Rev’d Rick Gummow, provides a timeline showing how the ACSQ came to its position on recognising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Constitution through a Voice to Parliament.
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