The resounding no vote shows the great Australian silence lives on in the bush

‘For all the shouting at the federal level, the silence in my town streets was deafening. People were loath to talk about the voice referendum.’ Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP

One of the saddest comments since Saturday’s referendum was from the Wangkangurru elder Don Rowlands from near Birdsville in the Queensland electorate of Maranoa, where 85% voted no.

“Maybe I don’t have as many friends as I thought. All I can do now is take flour and water and make a damper. It’s no help to my colleagues around the country,” Rowlands said.