Opportunity to discuss The Voice

Kiama residents will have the opportunity to ask a local expert about the upcoming referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament this week.

Uluru Statement from the Heart and the Voice Referendum: Listening and Responding

Aboriginal Christian leader, writer and speaker, and Wak ka Wakka women Brooke Prentis will host a lecture on the proposed Voice to Parliament, which Australians will vote on in a referendum later this year. Prentis is a grassroots community organiser with no political affiliation, who told The Bugle that the reception to these events has so far been fantastic.

Be informed and better equipped for respectful conversations with Brooke Prentis

As this would require al terations to the constitution, a referendum must be held to approve any changes. The referendum is scheduled to take place this year sometime between October and December.

“People were really appreciative of being presented with a balanced view,” said Prentis. “We bring diversity to these meetings so people are well informed. We have people who are passionate about the issue from both sides of the aisle, as well as a lot of people who are undecided.”

The referendum will ask Australians to vote on creating an Indigenous Voice to Parliament, which would

Kiama Council unanimously passed a motion in May 2022 to adopt the principles of the Uluru Statement of the Heart, the document that preceded the call for a Voice to Parliament signed in 2017.

Sunday 21 May at 7pm at Kiama Uniting Church and will be followed by a Q&A and supper, with a suggested donation of $10. by Brendon Foye although are rarely 80 years old!

Kiama local Jan Strodder and Gerroa’s Marie Sail are avid walkers who on their 80th year decided to do something challenging.

The friends of 10 years, with friend Suzanne Mondy from Sydney, hiked a total of 13 km from Eagles Nest to the top of Mt Kosciusko last month, and next year they plan to tackle the entire 18.6km return journey.

“You’ve got to have a goal,” Jan says.

The walk took over four hours to complete and was challenging in parts, according to Jan - especially the large number of steps right before the summit.

“It was worth it. Just like being on top of the world,” she says.

As the oldest walkers on the day, they even inspired others to have a crack.

“There was a young man at the top who was so excited that we got up there. If you can do it, he said, my mum can do it too. He phoned his mum and she’s going to come and do it for her birthday,” Jan says.

Marie is excited to tackle the entire walk next year and acknowledges that it’s a good challenge like this that keeps one going.

“It was all we imagined and more. What I was surprised most about was the feeling on the walk. The atmosphere was beautiful, and you can’t put your name on why it was so nice,” Marie says.

Jan and Marie are no stranger to long walks. They enjoy walking locally, including return walks from Gerroa to the other end of Gerringong, up Saddleback Mountain and from Minnamurra to Shellharbour.

by Cassandra Zaucer