Penny Newlove is a member of the newly formed Southern Highlands for YES committee in support of giving Australia's Indigenous residents a Voice to Parliament.
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She's calling on other Highlands residents to step-up, in the lead-up to the October 14 referendum, "to alter the Constitution to recognise the First Peoples of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice".
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A former early childhood worker, education that insures the rights and dignity of Australia's Indigenous population is something Ms Newlove has always been passionate about.
"I feel the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders support the Uluru Statement, and they believe it is the key to closing the gap," she said.
As such, Ms Newlove said she would be guided by them, "and my heart".
"Justice for Aboriginal people is something I feel deeply about," she said.
"I just think it's the right thing to do."
Southern Highland News asked Ms Newlove whether or not she believed the referendum would be accepted by Australia's general public.
"I have faith in Australians, that they will do the right thing," she said.
"I do worry if a 'No' vote goes through, and what message that would send to Indigenous and Torres Strait Islanders. I do live in fear of that."
Another thing Ms Newlove is concerned for, is Australia's international reputation.
"I don't really care about the embarrassing side, I just think it would be disgraceful if the 'No' vote goes through."
Despite these concerns, she's trying to remain positive by surrounding herself with like-minded Highlands residents.
"My hope is that the majority of residents will see that this is best answer for Indigenous people. We've tried and failed to create policy for them over the centuries with all various degrees of failure," Ms Newlove said.
"I just think that the only way that Aboriginal people can better their lives is to make their own decisions. They know their communities, just like we know our families.
"I would not expect government to come into my loungeroom and start telling me how to raise my kids. I just feel we know our families, we know our communities, and that is the best answer," she said.
How anybody could feel that the referendum change would be "detrimental" was hard for Ms Newlove to grasp.
"It actually won't effect us non-Aboriginal people. It's not going to have any impact on us whatsoever," she said.
On Sunday, September 17 the Southern Highlands for YES community group will host a Walk for Yes on the National Walk for Yes Day.
Media personality Julia Zemiro and Dr John Hewson will speak at the event, which is being held to raise awareness and support for the 'Yes' campaign.
The group will gather at the park next to Bowral Swimming Pool at 1.30pm and walk down Cherry Tree Walk, finishing at Glebe Park next to Bradman Oval at 3.30pm.
"I've always believed in truth telling, and I think that as a nation if we are informed, we can move forward," Ms Newlove said.
"I just believe that by accepting and embracing and respecting Aboriginal cultures, it brings healing. For 200 years Aboriginal people in some form or another have been told that, 'you're worthless, and everything that you do or believe in has been worthless.'
"I feel that we should be teaching the next generation of children that our Indigenous people and their cultures are something to be proud of. These people looked after our land for thousands and thousands of years, and they did a much better job then what we did. We are part of this land and we need to be proud of the Aboriginal culture," she said.
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