Breaking Barriers: Embracing Diversity in a Changing Community

Cherbourg, with its modern motto of "many tribes, one community," is situated on the ancestral lands of the Wakka Wakka people. Its diverse population of 1,700 residents are descendants of those who were once compelled to reside there due to segregation laws. From 1905 to 1971, over 2,600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals were forcibly relocated to Cherbourg, formerly known as Barambah, as documented by the Queensland government.

Colonial settlers once enforced a law that compelled Indigenous people to trek through the Australian bush without shoes, as part of a plan to relocate them from their ancestral lands and assimilate them into colonial society.

Presently, the inhabitants reside in orderly arrangements of single-story homes, paying rent to a council that is dedicated to transforming the former government reserve into a vibrant and desirable community. Remarkably, this effort appears to be succeeding.

Cherbourg Council CEO Chatur Zala revealed, "Approximately 260 individuals are currently on our waiting list, indicative of the substantial demand for social housing owing to our reasonably priced rent. The exorbitant rental rates in major cities make it unaffordable for many."

Life in Cherbourg has undergone significant changes; however, in Australia, a division remains prominent between non-Indigenous and Indigenous communities across various aspects, including infant mortality, employment, suicide, and incarceration.

In an effort to bridge this gap, Indigenous individuals have put forth a proposal that will be subject to a nationwide vote on October 14.

A Yes vote would acknowledge the inclusion of First Nations individuals in the constitution while establishing an advisory body, known as the Voice to Parliament, to provide guidance on matters impacting them. Alternatively, a No vote would signify that no alterations will be made.

Considering Cherbourg, a community formed as a result of segregation and assimilation policies, how does it perceive this significant advancement towards Indigenous reconciliation?

Mayor Elvie Sandow, seated in the comfort of her air-conditioned office in Cherbourg, expressed her concern over the prevailing confusion in the community. "The Voice and the pathway to a treaty have left my constituents in a state of perplexity," she admitted. The Mayor emphasized the necessity for residents to exercise their voting rights, as failing to do so would result in fines under Australia's compulsory voting laws. She quickly corrected herself, emphasizing the importance of citizen participation.

"Well, they probably wont vote," she said. "Theyll just go out and get their name ticked off the [electoral] roll, so that avoids them getting a fine."

Cherbourg Mayor Elvie Sandow and CEO Chatur Zala are working to create jobs and improve community infrastructure.

Hilary Whiteman/CNN

The Voice referendum

According to the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC), the country's first referendum in almost 25 years has witnessed a remarkable number of Australians registering to vote. The population of 25.69 million saw a record-breaking 17.67 million individuals signing up for this event.

The AEC staff have commenced early voting in isolated communities, undertaking extensive travel by 4WDs, helicopters, planes, and ferries to reach them.

Campaigners representing both sides, Yes and No, have also been navigating through the same pathways, engaging with locals, coordinating rallies, and investing millions of dollars in radio, television, and online advertisements to secure their votes.

Erin Johnston, who participated in a recent Yes rally in Brisbane organized by the charity Australians for Indigenous Constitutional Recognition, expressed that she believes this event holds significant importance in her life. "We now have the chance to correct a major injustice," Johnston added.

Erin Johnston (center) with friends Michael Blair (left) and Andy Roache (right) at a Yes rally in Brisbane on Sunday, September 17, 2023.

With only two weeks remaining until the vote, surveys indicate that the referendum is heading towards failure, which could potentially harm Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who had promised it during the election.

The prime minister has emphasized that the Voice is not his own initiative, but rather a humble appeal put forth by delegates from numerous Aboriginal nations who convened in meetings across the nation in 2017.

Collectively, they reached a consensus on a concise document known as the Uluru Statement from the Heart, which advocates for the inclusion of "a First Nations Voice enshrined in the Constitution."

When we have power over our destiny our children will flourish.

Uluru Statement from the Heart

A childhood in Cherbourg

Aunty Ruth Hegarty reminisces about her childhood in Cherbourg, where the children were deprived of the opportunity to thrive and navigate between two different cultural spheres. Instead, their culture was perceived as something to be obliterated.

At the age of 94, Aunty Ruth has authored an acclaimed book that chronicles her experiences growing up in the settlement. She was only an infant when her parents relocated from the Mitchell district in southwest Queensland in search of employment amidst the Great Depression.

On arrival, the family was separated into different areas of the settlement. Then they realized they couldnt leave.

A view of Cherbourg circa 1938.

Queensland Museum/Betty McKenzie Collection

The 1897 (Qld) Act, known as the Aboriginals Protection and Restriction of the Sale of Opium Act, granted authorities the power to relocate Indigenous individuals to government reserves and exert control over various aspects of their existence.

Until the age of four and a half, Aunty Ruth resided with her mother in the cramped women's section of a heavily populated dormitory.

Upon her inaugural day of schooling, she received the disheartening news that she would no longer reside with her mother. The proclamation of her newfound status as a schoolgirl was swiftly followed by her guidance to the designated area for female students, where she was obliged to share sleeping quarters, bathing facilities, linens, and meals with her fellow peers.

Aunty Ruth penned her recollection, detailing the strict prohibition on shedding tears, emphasizing that any display of emotional vulnerability invariably entailed retribution.

Punishment meant being caned, having their heads shaved, or being locked alone in a wooden cell at the back of the property, she wrote.

A group of children at the girls' dormitory in Cherbourg circa 1930.

Queensland Museum/Betty McKenzie Collection

Ruth's mother worked as domestic staff for settlers while the men performed manual labor. At the age of 14, Ruth herself was also sent away to earn money. When she turned 22, she sought permission from the state to marry. In the late 1960s, as restrictions eased, she relocated with her husband and six children to Brisbane in order to start a new life outside the settlement.

"We managed to escape. However, convincing my husband was not an easy task," she shared with CNN from her home in Brisbane. "I explained to him that there were no job opportunities for our children. Even if they completed high school, they wouldn't find employment in our town. Every office in Cherbourg had only White employees, leaving no opportunities for them. So I had to make him understand that we had to leave," she recalled.

Ruth exudes the enthusiasm of a seasoned activist, lounging beneath a pergola adorned with vibrant flowers in her garden. Clad in an orange Yes badge, she expresses her optimism for the upcoming referendum, anticipating a positive transformation.

Aunty Ruth Hegarty, 94, grew up in the girls' dormitory in Cherbourg after being separated from her mother when she started school.

Hilary Whiteman/CNN

"All I want is my constitutional recognition for me and my kids," she said, leaning forward. "We need a change. We need change."

To her right sat her daughter, Moira Bligh, the president of the volunteer Noonga Reconciliation Group. Moira stated, "We have successfully overcome adversity, but we cannot cease our efforts until everyone reaches the same level of progress."

Aunty Ruth chimed in, affirming, "I will persist because I believe it is our moral duty."

The argument against the Voice

At an event orchestrated by Advance, a conservative political lobby group, a gathering of No voters on a Wednesday night in a different part of town sheds light on the heated debate surrounding this referendum.

Sporting no caps or T-shirts distributed upon entry, they enthusiastically erupt with cheers as the leaders of the No movement implore them to reject fragmentation.

"The Yes campaign places emphasis on the past. Our focus lies in the present and the future, in propelling Australia forward to become a source of envy worldwide," expressed Nyunggai Warren Mundine, who hails from the Bundjalung, Gumbaynggirr, and Yuin communities.

We focus on the now and the future, the making of Australia the envy of the world.

Nyunggai Warren Mundine

Carpenter Blair Gilchrist, sitting at the back row, believes that Indigenous people wouldn't require a Voice if politicians were fulfilling their responsibilities and allocating funds appropriately. He expresses his lack of support for Albanese's Labor government and emphasizes the need for improved scrutiny and effective utilization of resources. "Ensuring better scrutiny of finances should be the primary focus. It is vital that the money is spent wisely," he remarked.

Many targets aimed at closing the enduring disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in national health and welfare statistics have not been achieved, despite the significant investment of billions of dollars by successive governments. Furthermore, certain indicators, such as incarceration rates, suicide rates, and the number of children in care, show a widening gap between the two groups. The Voice intends to provide non-binding recommendations to the government on potential solutions to address this inequality, although skeptics argue that it is unnecessary.

"According to Northern Territory Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, a descendant of the Warlpiri people, infant mortality rates have declined, and life expectancy has grown. Although it may not have reached the desired levels yet, there is progress in the right direction."

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price at a Conservative Political Action Conferencein August 2023.

Richard Milnes/Shutterstock

The death rate for Indigenous children ages 0-4 was 2.1 times higher than the rate for non-Indigenous children between 2015 and 2019, based on government data. On average, non-Indigenous men live 8.6 years longer than Indigenous men, and for women, the gap is 7.8 years. These disparities are even more pronounced in remote communities, according to statistics.

"The Voice suggests that Indigenous Australians are inherently disadvantaged solely because of our racial heritage," Price stated. "It implies that every one of us requires special measures and inclusion in the constitution. These claims are untrue. Just look at me and Warren, we're doing well, aren't we?" she added.

Both the proponents of both the Yes and No sides desire increased accountability, seeking evidence that the substantial annual funding allocated to Indigenous programs is effectively aiding those in severe need. Additionally, they share the goal of uplifting the most marginalized Indigenous individuals, albeit differing in approaches to achieve this objective.

A proposal has been made, advocating for the implementation of specific provisions in the constitution applicable to all individuals. However, it is crucial to recognize that this suggestion is inaccurate and misleading.

Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price

Supporters of the Yes camp argue that we must acknowledge the fact that First Nations people, as the world's oldest continuous civilization, inhabited this land for 60,000 years prior to the arrival of British settlers a little over 200 years ago.

The official No campaign argues that there are no divisions among Australians, from First Nations people to new migrants, and altering the constitution would only create more divisions. The Yes campaign, on the other hand, believes that Indigenous people have a significant role in the country's history and deserve recognition, as well as a permanent body that cannot be dismantled by future governments based on their political motivations.

Some Indigenous individuals are voting against the proposition because they feel that it falls short of their expectations. They are advocating for the negotiation of treaties between the traditional owners of the land and the current occupants.

Push for progress

In Cherbourg, visitors can explore the former ration shed, where individuals from numerous Aboriginal nations used to gather each week to collect their ration of essential items, including tea, sugar, rice, salt, sago, tapioca, split peas, porridge, flour, and meat.

Its now a museum, where elders share stories of life in those days.

Tourists visiting the Ration Shed Museum are shown the interior of the old boys' dormitory. The girls' dormitory burned down in the 1990s.

Hilary Whiteman/CNN

Cherbourg Council has experienced significant progress in recent years following the election of Mayor Elvie in 2020. Zala mentioned that the council has seen a twofold increase in the number of job opportunities, with 130 positions now available, predominantly occupied by local employees. He proudly declared this to be the highest employment rate among any Indigenous community.

The first recycling center in an Indigenous community has been opened, serving as a waste management facility for the surrounding areas. Additionally, an Indigenous staff operates the first Digital Service Center, offering valuable experience and qualifications.

Efforts are underway to further expand the water treatment plant beyond the upgrades introduced last year. Above all, the council is focused on finding ways to provide new housing options for the numerous individuals wishing to relocate to the community.

Cherbourg, operating as a Deed of Grant in Trust (DOGIT) community, continues to rely on government funding, making it a challenging task. The majority of homes in Cherbourg are owned and maintained by the council, leaving very little private ownership. Despite the council's efforts to persuade residents to purchase their family homes, there are few financial incentives available. The absence of a housing market results in no capital gains, and some potential homeowners are hesitant due to the expenses associated with private upkeep after years of council support, according to Zala.

Born and raised in the community, Mayor Elvie possesses a deep understanding of the local issues. Her mother resided in the Cherbourg dormitory until she reached the age of marriage. Although the restrictions were gradually lifted by the time Mayor Elvie was born in the 1970s, she remains skeptical about the effectiveness of a Voice to Parliament in Canberra in addressing the everyday challenges of employment, housing, and education that her community confronts.

Hence, she plans to vote against it.

"I have thoroughly considered my decision," she explained. "I have engaged in numerous discussions with various mayors and communities, wherein some mayors support the affirmative vote. The opinions are sharply divided."

I represent Cherbourg as the elected mayor of this community.

Mayor Elvie Sandow is an advocate for ensuring equal treatment for all Australians, including individuals like Zala, who migrated from Gujarat, India to Australia in 2006. Zala has been actively involved in bridging the gap in Cherbourg since 2011. Critics from the No camp argue that granting constitutional recognition to the country's Indigenous population would undermine the efforts made for newcomers like Zala.

"That's my daily motivation when I come here. I don't understand why we have to be unique compared to other communities. I have always believed that we shouldn't strive to create a community that lags so far behind," he expressed. When it comes to the Voice, he confirmed his vote will be a Yes.

By casting a Yes vote, one can at least hold onto hope. While we are uncertain about the specifics that will unfold post the Voice, it is advisable to push it forward and observe if any positive outcomes arise for our community," he expressed. "I anticipate that many others will follow suit."