By YES23 campaign supporter Jeremy Lasek

With the countdown underway for a potential nation-changing vote for Indigenous constitutional recognition, there’s growing momentum in support of a YES vote in the Illawarra.

 Coinciding with the start of 2023 NAIDOC Week, the University of Wollongong will host the community launch of the campaign for a YES vote at 11am on Sunday, 2 July 2023.

 Speakers will include Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery and 2023 Wollongong Citizen of the Year, Sally Stevenson. 

The people of Wollongong and the Illawarra will get the chance to learn more about the importance of Australians delivering a resounding majority YES vote at this first a community forum.

This forum is an opportunity for the general public to be better informed about how, through constitutional recognition, Indigenous people will have a say about the laws and policies that directly affect them.

We need to move on from the current divisive parliamentary debate to a conversation in our own communities. This is why, across the country, supporters of the Voice are sparking thousands of conversations, so more people can understand the importance of this vote.

It’s so appropriate the Illawarra launch of the YES campaign is taking place at UOW.

Earlier this year, UOW demonstrated courage and leadership by publicly throwing its support behind our First Nations people finally receiving recognition in our constitution and receiving a Voice to Parliament.

We are now calling on others; individuals, businesses, church groups, charities, sporting and community organisations to back the YES campaign and to encourage others to vote.

We will get one opportunity to get this right and every single one of us has a responsibility to be informed before we vote. The referendum question is quite simple, with a simple answer. YES!’

 The Illawarra YES23 campaign launch will take place on the lawns of UOW near the Hope Theatre and everyone is welcome to attend.

The final speaker line-up for the UOW event is:

• Gordon Bradbery, Wollongong Lord Mayor
• Uncle Richard Davis
• Sally Stevenson, Wollongong 2023 Citizen of the Year
• Jaymee Beveridge, Director UOW Indigenous Strategy
• Arthur Rorris, Secretary South Coast Labour Council
• Prof Trish Mundy, Chief Integrity Officer, UOW
• Dr Summer May Finlay, public health expert
• Tammy Small, Manager Projects and Indigenous Advancement at UOW
• Alyce Lasek, UOW student and disability worker