The Advertiser’s ‘Voicewagen’ Kombi reaches Whyalla as residents weigh in on Voice vote
The Advertiser’s Paul Ashenden has set out across the state to gauge where people stand on the referendum. See what the residents of Whyalla had to say.
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There’s certainly worse places to wake up.
Nelson the Voicewagon Kombi is parked at the Whyalla Foreshore caravan park and about 20 metres away, three dolphins frolick in the shallows, closely watched by three pelicans following their every move.
It is just after dawn and the dolphins and pelicans play together for half an hour or so to the delight of the few bleary-eyed campers enjoying the spectacle.
The scene is far removed from the hustle and bustle of work, politics and everyday life, but alas we can only watch for a while before we are required to address each of the aforementioned maladies.
We are on day two of The Advertiser’s Voicewagen tour. The people of Whyalla need to have their say about how they will vote at next weekend’s referendum and where Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s planned Voice to Parliament fits in with their everyday lives.
Day One of the tour in Kimba delivered a resounding No verdict, and we are keen to see if that sentiment will be replicated here in Whyalla – population about 20,000.
It’s a town built on a long tradition of working class values and is a Labor Party stronghold, but any expectations that history will transfer to a Yes-leaning electorate quickly dissipate as we speak to people.
Of the 23 people we speak to here, only five have committed to vote Yes. Of the 13 who already had or planned to vote no, eight are Whyalla locals. Only two locals we speak to are in the Yes camp and another two undecided.
Kate Dickeson, 42, and Dylan Coulter, 27, work just a couple of doors down from each other in Patterson St, a few hundred metres from the town’s famous circular jetty.
Kate runs a health food shop while Dylan works at Elders. Kate is Whyalla born and bred, having worked previously at Santos for 16 years, then at a children’s charity for five years before starting her shop, Simply Good Health, a few months ago.
When Mr Albanese first floated the idea of a Voice referendum last year, she was in the Yes camp but after learning some of her close Indigenous friends were against including the Voice in the constitution, she changed her mind.
“I have quite close Indigenous friends (and I have changed) out of respect to them,” she says as we chat in Wilson Park, near the town’s entrance.
“They don’t want it. I think there’s this feeling that you know, there’s going to be city folk who may be a little bit unattached, making decisions for them, which they don’t want.
“So if they don’t want it, I want to support them and have changed from a Yes to a No.”
Dylan has a remarkably similar story.
“I was originally undecided, borderline and Yes, just from things I had read but I’ve been talking to a few of my Indigenous friends and getting their opinions on it,” he says.
“I would rather make an informed decision than rush into something that could change a lot of things for people and they (my Indigenous friends) obviously have expressed their concerns about it.
“I just feel out of respect for them and for the various Indigenous people I’ve talked to, I don’t think it should be in.”
Down at the town’s marina, we run into former Sydney couple Angus Cameron, 30, and Roxana Swanson Manuel, 25. The pair have been travelling through SA for the past six months as part of their working lap around Australia and cast their votes at a pre-poll voting centre in Port Augusta the previous day.
And though they are living harmoniously together in a small Toyota Hiace, they disagree on the Voice. Angus voted No and Roxana voted Yes, though they agree there is still too much confusion around how, specifically, a Voice to Parliament would help First Nations people.
“I felt a little bit torn voting about it,” Roxana says. “Just because there’s so many different angles to consider on it. On some level, I think it would make a difference, so I voted Yes. But I also think, is it going to actually make a difference?
“I voted Yes because I thought something needs to change. You know, and I think if anyone deserves recognition in the constitution, it is the Indigenous people of Australia. I don’t really like the idea of changing the constitution at all. But something needs to happen one way or the other.”
Angus respects Roxana’s opinion, but says a Yes outcome on Saturday week would open up the country to too many unknowns.
“When you say Yes, it opens it up to so many more things,” he said. “And I personally don’t think it’s going to change anything. I just don’t I don’t see it.”
At a pre-poll voting centre at Whyalla TAFE, local Keith Brock, 66, is handing out how-to-vote cards for the No campaign. He was surprised to discover there is no-one from the Yes camp doing the same thing, and says most people are happy to take one of his leaflets.
“I agree with the No campaign because the Yes campaign hasn’t been explained properly,” the younger brother of Port Pirie-based member for Stuart Geoff Brock says.
“What’s going to happen when it’s finished is (supposedly) all going to be revealed after it’s done, but I don’t believe it ever will be revealed.”
Most of the voters we come across while talking with Keith are firmly in the No camp.
Local Barry Spry, 82, sums up their sentiment well.
I’m a definite No voter because I don’t believe in dividing the whole place, I think we’re going fairly well as we are,” he said.
“I think it’s been a complete and utter waste of money. None of my contemporaries are going to vote Yes, let’s put it that way.”
David Jewell, 74, and Sarah Lewis, 36, are the only two Whyalla locals we come across who are in the Yes camp.
Young couple Jade Inglis, 20, and Reece Marks, 23, are undecided, mainly on account of the fact the pair have been too busy buying their first house (the deal went through earlier today!) to even know there is a referendum around the corner.
Our time in Whyalla has been less mechanically troubling than Day One of our Voicewagen Kombi tour in Kimba but all good things must come to an end.
It’s time to hit the road and head north, where we’ll stop overnight in Port Augusta before heading down to Port Pirie and then on to the bright lights of Adelaide.
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