“If we don’t seize the moment now, then when?”
It was a question posed by ultra-marathon runner Pat Farmer on the steps of the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday, where he arrived as part of Run for the Voice. The 14,400km journey around Australia is aimed at raising awareness and support for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament.
Several hundred people were on hand to greet Farmer, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Member for Sydney Tanya Plibersek, and Lord Mayor Clover Moore, together with Sydney Swans CEO Tom Harley, Swans players Aliesha Newman, Eliza Vale and Cynthia Hamilton, GO Foundation co-founder Michael O’Loughlin and GO students Noah and Aurielle Smith.
Described by the Prime Minister as “an inspiration”, Farmer urged Australians to move forward together with First Nations people.
“Let’s not leave this to our children and our children’s children to fix the problems of the past. We have a moment in time – let’s take it,” Farmer said.
The Swans and GO Foundation contingent ran with Pat Farmer and the Prime Minister from the Opera House to Mrs Macquarie’s Chair. The Swans players proudly wore the team's new Marn Grook guernsey, which was designed by Aliesha Newman.
The Run for the Voice commenced in Tasmania in April with the journey set to finish at Uluru on October 11.
Later this year Australians will have their say in a referendum on whether to change the constitution to recognise First Nation’s Peoples by establishing a Voice to Parliament.
For the change to occur, a double majority of voters need to be in favour – namely a national majority of voters from all states and territories, as well as a majority of voters from a majority of states (so at least four of the six states).
You can find out more about the Voice to Parliament at https://voice.gov.au/