By YES23 volunteer and campaigner Jeremy Lasek

There were tears. There were cheers. And it ended with a standing ovation from the 400-plus crowd that packed the University of Wollongong's aptly named Hope Theatre for Sunday, July 2’s Illawarra launch of the YES campaign for the upcoming referendum.

Many who arrived expressed their frustration at the misinformation from those campaigning for a NO vote in the referendum.

"We haven’t known how to counter their confusing arguments, which range from the Voice having too much power to not enough," said a retired school teacher from Dapto proudly wearing his ‘Vote Yes’ badge.

For nearly 90 minutes, Indigenous and non-Indigenous spoke passionately and fielded questions from people wanting to learn more.

Wollongong’s 2023 Citizen of the Year, Sally Stevenson, challenged the crowd to make the Illawarra region the highest YES voting community in Australia.

Accepting that challenge, the enthusiastic crowd chanted a resounding ‘YES’!

Decades of struggle

Choking back tears, Dharawal man Uncle Richard Davis spoke of the struggles his parents had endured, striving to help close the gap for decades with only limited success.

Uncle Richard pleaded with the audience to rally in support and recognition of those who’ve gone before by voting Yes in the referendum for constitutional recognition and a Voice to Parliament.

“I don’t want you to feel sorry for us. I just want you to understand how important this vote will be in changing our lives for the better," he said.

Jaymee Beveridge, UOW's executive director of Indigenous strategy and director of Woolyungah Indigenous Centre, lamented how long it’s taken for Australians to recognise our First Nations people.

"In the 1967 referendum Australia voted overwhelmingly to see us. Now, in 2023, we are asking Australia to hear us, by giving us a voice," she said.

Growing support for YES

Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery and University of Wollongong senior executive Professor Trish Mundy expressed pride that the organisations they represent had thrown their total support behind the YES campaign.

Councillor Bradbery said no one would be disadvantaged if the YES vote was successful.

"It’s simply the right thing to do," he said.

South Coast union leader Arthur Rorris said for too long Indigenous voices had only been heard when it was too late – at royal commissions into deaths in custody and government inquiries into serious health and social disadvantage.

"The Voice will help put the voices of our First Nations people right up front, before it’s too late," he said.

What message does NO send?

As the Master of Ceremonies for the launch event, I asked: "What message would a NO vote send to our First Nations people?

"What message does it send to the entire nation?

"What message would it send to the world who’ll be watching how we vote?

"Especially those countries who we’ve criticised for the way they’ve treated marginalised groups in their nation."

Pitching to our youth

Representing the region’s younger voters, UOW student and disability support worker Alyce Lasek called on young voters to get themselves informed about the issues before they vote.

"Young Australians are the future leaders… we are the future generation to lead this nation and therefore we will be the generation to suffer the consequences if this referendum is unsuccessful."

Quoting the Warumpi Band’s hit, Black Fella/White Fella, Alyce’s shout out was for young Australians to "stand up and be counted" when they vote later this year.

"Voting yes will shift and change the trajectory of First Nations people’s lives and will impact the wider Australian community, equally and positively," Alyce said.

"I want my future, and the future of all young people to have a voice together. A voice on topics that are impacting this nation and that includes the opinions of our First Nations people."

Following a long and enthusiastic standing ovation and several chants of ‘YES’, the audience was encouraged to join the many thousands who’ve already volunteered to support the YES23 campaign by volunteering on the yes23.com.au website.

Swim out/sit in for YES at North Beach

Preceding the UOW launch, more than 100 people of all ages gathered at North Wollongong Beach in stunning winter sunshine for the first beach party in support of the YES campaign.

Important information was passed on to those who attended and dozens of passers-by who wanted to be better informed about the issues.

Organisers Sarah Tedder and Amanda Strudwick plan to hold a similar event at a Wollongong beach every month between now and the referendum. The next will be held on Sunday, 6 August at a venue yet to be confirmed

After reading the Uluru Statement from the Heart to the assembled crowd, Sarah, Amanda and a hardy group of supporters took to the chilly ocean waters for another first: A Swim Out for YES.

They’re hoping, weather permitting, these beach party events will only get bigger as the referendum draws nearer.