By BEN CAMERON
A PAKENHAM celebrant believes it is only a matter of time, and a change of Federal Government leadership, before Australia embraces gay marriage.
Wendy Andrews has just returned from New Zealand where she helped marry a gay couple, her old friends Kim and John, who had been together for over 26 years.
As she is only registered in Australia, a local celebrant had to perform the legal aspects of the union, however Wendy wrote the ceremony.
“I enjoy writing about people’s stories and can stand in front of a crowd of people and perform the ceremony knowing I am not the most nervous person up there,” she laughed.
“I believe there is a lot of fear and misunderstanding about single sex relationships.
“The words I wrote for the ceremony were exactly the same as I would have written for a straight couple.
“There is commitment, love, caring for each other, finding your life partner.
“It was an honour and a privilege to be such a very special part of their wedding.
“They have lived as a couple for longer than I have been married and nowadays that says a lot about a couple’s commitment and love for each other through good times and bad.”
Wendy moved to Pakenham six years ago after three decades in New Zealand.
She would like to see Australia follow the lead of its neighbour across the ditch.
“New Zealand has been brave enough to make tough decisions based on what is right for them, such as banning nuclear powered American ships and submarines, and also their unwavering stance concerning Greenpeace,” she said.
“They have not been afraid of what the rest of the world might think of their decisions or afraid of upsetting trading partners.
I would like to be a voice for gay marriage having seen it first-hand.”
In her speech, Wendy said her 86-year-old mother had always wished she would marry Kim one day.
“I said that Kim would often be my plus one when I needed a partner for a ball,” she said.
“Mother always wished I had married Kim, and that I did. But not the way she wished.”
