The Advertiser’s ‘Voicewagen’ Kombi reaches Naracoorte and Bordertown as residents weigh in on Voice vote

The Advertiser’s ‘Voicewagen’ Kombi has set out across the state to gauge where people stand on the referendum. See what the residents of Naracoorte and Bordertown had to say.

The Advertiser’s Voicewagon Kombi has made it to Naracoorte. Picture: Ben Clark

Driving around the South-East in Nelson the orange and white Kombi, we’ve often felt a bit like a travelling show.

People wave and beep, take photos and we’ve heard all kinds of sentimental stories about Kombis – childhood Kombis, restored Kombis, occasionally broken down Kombis, and Kombis that just go and go and go.

But in Naracoorte, we find, we may have met our match. As it turns out, out Nelson the Voicewagen is not the only show to roll into town this week.

We’re into the second week of our tour of SA, speaking with people everywhere we go about Saturday’s Voice to Parliament referendum.

Naracoorte – an area 100km north of Mount Gambier that is home to about 9000 people — is today’s first stop.

Down at the local showgrounds, towering rides hitched to the back of trucks have already made their way here ahead of the Naracoorte show this Saturday.

The Advertiser’s ‘Voicewagen’ Kombi is touring the state, speaking with people everywhere we go about Saturday’s Voice to Parliament referendum. Picture: Ben Clark

On Smith St, in the main part of the town, we meet Jacob Copping, 23, of Mount Gambier. He’ll be operating the Kamikaze ride and we take the chance to ask him about the Voice.

Jacob admits he didn’t know there was a referendum happening and doesn’t know what it’s about.

As an undecided voter, he later likens it to waiting in line to order food.

“I’ll decide when I’m in line, when it’s my turn,” he says.

More than 2.2m Australians have cast early votes in the referendum but on our travels, we’ve found plenty that haven’t decided how they’ll vote.

Sitting at the town square, enjoying a pie for lunch is Paul Blow, 55, who lives in Millicent but has come to run an errand.

He is Bundjalung, the First Nations people of northern coastal New South Wales. Asked how he’ll vote, he says “flip a coin, I guess”.

“I don’t think it will make any difference whatever the result is,” he says.

But he adds that misinformation, particularly around land rights, has been difficult to deal with.

“Every bloke thinks their farm’s going to get taken,” he says.

“That makes it all even worse for the blackfellas. We’re not even saying stuff like that.”

Not long after, we get chatting with Ann Sears, 75, of Naracoorte. She’s voting no and adds: “I could give you the names of 20 people I know who are voting no”.

Around the town, we meet no eight no voters if we could a passer-by who chimed in “you can put me down for absolutely not” but gave no further detail.

There were three yes voters (two local, one on an extended stay in the area) and three undecideds.

Rex and Lynette Staude in Bordertown SA. Picture: Ben Clark

Also at the square, we meet Rex and Lynette Staude. They’ve been following Nelson’s journey in the paper so they know what the travelling Kombi is all about.

They’re both no voters.

“Whichever way it goes, it will divide the country,” Rex says.

The Staudes tell us they actually live at Bordertown but, like Paul, they’ve come here to get a couple things done. When we mention Bordertown is next on our itinerary, they invite us around for an afternoon cuppa.

After four big days pounding the pavement, it is an offer we cannot refuse.

So, we all hit the road and meet up 80 kilometres later at Rex and Lynette’s beautiful home.

They put out a spread and we chat a bit about the Voice but mostly about other stuff – local history, fishing and different places they’ve been.

Aaron Gurney in Bordertown SA. Picture: Ben Clark

After the Staude’s warm welcome, we head into the centre of Bordertown – but find there’s not many people around.

So we head towards the highway and catch a few people who have recently knocked off work.

There’s a large migrant workforce in this area, and a few people we approach tell us they’re not citizens so won’t vote.

One who will be casting a ballot is Aaron Gurney, 44, who works at the meatworks. He’ll be voting no.

“There’s no information about why we’re voting and what we’re voting for,” he says.

Rachel Gurney, 48, is voting no too – as is Kevin Colbert, 76. When we approach apprentice mechanic Billy Allan, 18, he says he is undecided.

“I’ve got no idea what I’ll vote for,” he says.

In Bordertown, we meet one local yes voter – 72-year-old Bill Hillier who says “nothing’s working so maybe this will work”.

There are seven people who say they’re voting no and two who remain undecided.