On August 8 the bill passed through the Lower House of Parliament (59 votes to 31) after three days of passionate argument and with several amendments.

Our own sitting member, Mel Pavey, was one of those who voted for the reform, stating the intent of the bill was to "move pregnancy terminations out of the Crimes Act into the Health Act".

"I respect people have strong views on this issue, though people can continue to make their own decisions based on their circumstance, belief and conscience," Mrs Pavey said to Guardian News after the vote.

The bill takes abortion out of the 119-year-old criminal code and regulates it as a medical procedure, with extra safeguards for abortions after 22 weeks' gestation.

One of the Macksville protest coordinators and concerned mother and grandmother, Michelle Lackner, said the action on Saturday was organised to coincide with the scheduled meeting of the National Party "to send a clear message to the Party and our local member for Oxley, Melinda Pavey, just how concerned we all are about this radical abortion bill".

"This bill will allow late term abortions, sex-selection abortions and do nothing to save babies born alive as a result of an abortion attempt," Mrs Lackner said.

Another local coordinator Hannah Woolhouse said the group was disappointed that Mrs Pavey had not consulted with the local community before voting.

"The extreme nature of this bill isn't reflective of our community's values and the large numbers seen at the protest are evidence of that. We call on Melinda Pavey to speak to her Upper House colleagues and urge them to vote against the bill," she said.

Mrs Lackner has said the Macksville protest wasn't designed to disrupt the meeting, with members maintaining a "respectful" and mostly silent objection, except for a prayer session and a couple of group-led songs.

She hoped the signs which each member was encouraged to create themselves and bring would do the speaking for them.

"The messages on the posters we have made reflect our views on the love and value we place on unborn babies," she said.

"And we are here to display our love for mothers who may find themselves in difficult situations and let them know that both they and their unborn child is loved, and cherished."

The assembled group came from diverse backgrounds and held a range of opinions, but shared a common frustration that not enough time was given for a greater range of voices to be heard on the issue.

Several thousand people also rallied against the Reproductive Healthcare Reform bill in Sydney's Hyde park on Sunday afternoon.

Debate on the bill resumes tomorrow (Tuesday) in the Upper House.

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