Central Victorian same-sex couples are hoping the upcoming marriage equality vote will finally allow them the same recognition as their straight peers.
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The postal vote in September will provide the opportunity for everyone to have their say on the issue.
However there has not been any guarantee given that federal politicians will be forced to vote in line with the result.
Some have said they will vote as directed, while others said they would abstain if a yes vote won. Delacombe resident Steve Hocking lives with his fiance, Jak Voegele, but the couple are determined to marry in 18 months.
The 28-year-old said he had the support of his family, but a yes vote would also show he had the support of his country.
“It is more about how people outside of us see our relationship,” he said.
“We will be married in 18 months, whether there is legal marriage or not, but when we got engaged we got questions about, will we go overseas and how we will do it, this will end that.”
Campaigning has already started for the vote with anti-same-sex marriage groups such as the Australian Christian Lobby, pushing hard against change.
The lobby’s website said the vote is a proxy war for the nation’s soul and a yes vote would threaten religious freedom.
Daylesford resident Sally Davis, 37, has been with her partner, Sally Trewick, for 17 years.
The couple have three children and undertook a commitment ceremony in 2004.
Ms Davis said the arguments against same-sex marriage were irrelevant.
“We are already living a family life, we are blessed to have three kids even though we cannot marry,” she said.
“My eight-year-old is asking about it, he says ‘aren’t you already married?’ and I have to explain it all to him.
“This postal vote is a licence to say hurtful things about my family.”
Australia is the only English speaking nation not to have legalised same-sex marriage.
The United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and the United State having passed marriage equality laws.
Ms Davis said although she opposed the use of a postal vote to decide the issue, people who felt strongly about the issue should take the chance to make their voices heard.
“It is very frustrating so of course it matters to me, my family and the people part of my life,” she said.
“Just do it now, this debate has been going for such a long time.”
The vote will be run by the Australian Bureau of Statistics with enrolment closing on August 24.
