Sister Kerry Macdermott has already done more than her share of work helping Indigenous people in Campbelltown and Macarthur.
In 1984, Sister Kerry and congregational leader, Sister Patricia Murphy, moved to Minto where their involvement with the local Aboriginal community led to the formation of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry in 1993.
Over the years, their ministry changed from nursing to welfare and advocacy for the rights of those in need.
Sister Kerry’s role as advocate and mentor in the community is most evident in her work with schools, particularly John Therry Catholic College, Rosemeadow, where 12.6 percent of the student population identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
She is a much-loved member of the John Therry community and her tireless work has resulted in students having a strong cultural voice and presence in their school.
Now Sister Kerry, who is pictured above with another much loved member of the Campbelltown community, Aboriginal elder Uncle Ivan Wellington, has decided to play a small role in Saturday’s referendum, by writing a poem urging locals to support the Yes campaign.
The poem is titled Referendum 2023:
Vote yes in the referendum
Vote yes for the first people of this land
Vote yes for recognition and their place in the constitution
It’s taken a long time
To right the wrongs of the past
But this time we can get things right
We can make a difference in their lives
By voting yes our first people can be heard
By saying yes they can get the chance
To do things their way – not ours
Let’s give them the opportunity to do things
The way that they know will work
For 60,000 year or more they have looked after
This beautiful country – they have looked after
The great creator spirit who guided them
Through their lore and their dreaming
They must have got something right
Our elders have longed for recognition
To share with us – to be given a voice
Australia – place of the fair go
It’s time to give our first people a fair go
Let us start a new future together
As friends and equals in this great brown land
So the tide of inequality will forever disappear
Say yes so life span, health, education, housing, incarceration,
Opportunity will improve over time – that’s for sure
The spirit of Jesus beckons us
We can do it – just say yes
