“I don’t mind who loves who. I think love is better than hate, any tick of the clock,” Ms Brown said. Having performed civil ceremonies for same sex couples in the past, Ms Brown has already had inquiries from locals keen to take advantage of the new laws. 

However she refuses to condemn those on the other side of the fence. “I can understand people’s fears, and that’s ok. They’re allowed to have an opinion,” she said.

“That’s the thing that I think I’ve found most disconcerting with the whole thing, is people seeming to not be encouraged to have an opinion, if they’re against it.”

Ms Brown has new Notice of Intended Marriage forms with the word ‘party’ in place of the previous ‘bride’ and ‘groom’, and will no longer be required to state that marriage is between a man and a woman.

Instead, the monitum describes marriage as a ‘union of two people to the exclusion of all others’.

She could be performing her first same sex marriage ceremony within a month. 

She is supportive of regional celebrants who have chosen to be registered as religious marriage celebrants, giving them the right to refuse officiating same sex unions. 

“I think if you turn down a couple that are of same sex, for your own valid reasons, what you feel you’re comfortable with - the fear is that you’re going to be ostracised because of that opinion, and that’s what’s sad,” she said.

She said that if similar laws had been passed allowing multiple marriages or marriage for those under 16, she would like to have the right to refuse due to her own beliefs.

After watching a relatively small percentage of the Australian population change both public opinion and the Constitution, Ms Brown believed that multiple marriages could be around the corner.

“There are other minority groups that are in large percent that also have cultural, religious and political views that are against the law at the moment, as same sex marriage was against the law,” she said.

“I think that you promise to be with the one person. You commit to that person and I think that’s a good thing,” she said.

Ms Brown felt it was important locals recognise the wide impact of the changes. 

“It links into the Anti Discrimination Act, Migration Act - there’s lots of other things that go on, and the changes to the Marriage Act will then kick on changes in those areas,” she said.

Ms Brown’s advice for local couples considering marrying their same sex partner was the same as that for heterosexual pairs. 

“As with any relationship, you really need to think about it first,” she said.

“Just because it’s special now that it’s just happened, doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea for you, or you’ve chosen the right person.”

She recommended locals avoid seeing marriage as a “the flavour of the month” and continue to recognise it as “a strong, lifetime commitment that requires thought and discussion”.

“Do it for the right reasons,” she urged.

She remained supportive of those whose struggled to accept the new laws.

“Everyone needs to be able to have a view, and if they don’t want to have a view, that’s fine too.”