Today marks the anniversary of the failed Voice to Parliament referendum, and for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders like VACCHO CEO Dr. Jill Gallagher AO, the referendum outcome remains “very fresh and raw.”
Dr. Gallagher spoke at a webinar event last night, facilitated by the Uluru Statement from the Heart architects Professor Megan Davis and Dr Pat Anderson.
She reflected on a powerful photo from her involvement in the Voice campaign. The photo is of Dr Gallagher who is joined by a group of Aboriginal leaders at a Yes campaign rally at the Aboriginal Advancement League in Thornbury.
“We are all standing in front of a mural of Aboriginal Elders who paved the way for my generation to do what we do now. Elders who fought for recognition and better conditions for Aboriginal people.”
“These Elders fought hard to ensure we would be recognised as citizens of this country in the 1967 referendum, and last year I was hoping that we were going to build on their hard work.”
Dr. Gallagher, who campaigned tirelessly for the Voice, reflects on her memory of the night of October 14 when the referendum vote was handed down.
“The absolute devastation that I felt that night still feels the same 12 months on,” she said.
“As an Aboriginal woman who has always worked hard to advance the rights of our people, to lose a referendum to have the Indigenous people of this country recognised in the constitution, I find it so hard to take.”
Dr. Gallagher said that while she remains unsure of how the Aboriginal community are supposed to recover from the vote, she still has hope, especially in Victoria.
“I believe there is still hope that we might get a Treaty here and that we might be able to empower our elected voice in Victoria.”
“For me moving forward, I will continue to do what I can to advocate for the health and welling of Aboriginal people. To continue to advance us as a peoples and to fight for the rights and recognition we deserve.”
“VACCHO is proud to work with Community to ensure our voices still filter up to decision makers, but we need them to be more committed than ever, with their words, action and funding, to Closing the Gap and to truth-telling,” Dr. Gallager said.
