Cobargo post office licencees David Wilson and Kyle Moser were thrown into a dispute with Australia Post in August after they were ordered to take down the rainbow flag flying from the post office’s flagpole. 

While the flag came down at the post office, many more went up around the small town as the Cobargo community came together in colourful defiance.

On Tuesday, Mr Wilson said the community had been very supportive, dropping in with congratulations, gifts and champagne.

“We may or may not have had a glass already,” Mr Wilson said. 

On the same day that the post office was ordered to remove their rainbow flag, Mr Wilson proposed to Mr Moser, his partner of eight years.

“The whole event of the postal poll is what led me to propose to Kyle, it created a sense of positivity in the midst of what was sometimes an ugly debate,” he said.

“We had an engagement party with over 150 people attending, who all supported us getting married.”

Support for the couple has spread beyond town limits, as the pair’s conflict with Australia Post over their rainbow flag caught national, and even international, attention.

“We haven’t been flying our flag since we were ordered to take it down,” Mr Wilson said.

“But we did put it up this morning, just for the day.

“The Australian flag will be back up tomorrow, but today is a day of celebration.”

Mr Wilson expected the Yes vote to win, but did not expect to feel so relieved from the result. 

“We thought we would get up, but we didn’t imagine it would be as high percentage as it was, especially in the Eden-Monaro area,” he said. 

“It’s a good result from a postal poll we didn't support.”

The Eden-Monaro electorate returned one of the highest Yes results in Australia, at 65 per cent. 

Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Mike Kelly said he was “intensely proud”.

“Despite a deeply flawed process, we have made the best of this situation” he said. 

“I am proud of the civilised and respectful debate that took place in our region.”

Dr Kelly said it was now the expectation of himself and his fellow Parliamentarians to deliver marriage equality as quickly as possible.