By Tyler Wright
When voters’ headed to the early voting centre in Monbulk on Thursday 17 November, issues like road conditions, schools and health care were on their minds as candidates and volunteers from major and minor parties handed out how-to-vote cards in an attempt to win over balloters.
Volunteers for the Greens and Animal Justice Party (AJP) chatted with constituents, with mixed reactions as some engaged in conversation, and some quickly made their vote and went on their way.
Labor Party candidate Daniela De Martino and Liberal Party Gareth Ward braving the chilly Spring conditions for hours on end in the race to the election along with Independent candidates Johanna Skelton and Craig Cole.
After casting her vote, an ex-nurse and Mount Dandenong resident told the Star Mail the number one factor influencing her vote was climate change.
“Health comes from climate change, because if we don’t keep ourselves well, and we don’t do something about climate change and all this flooding, what’s going to happen? People are going to be sicker and sicker, and there’s no room in the hospitals,” she said.
“People are not coping physically or mentally and it’s really, really hard. I know family members who are also nurses;that extreme pressure at work to keep working, and no matter how old you are, or how long you’ve been there there are still so many stresses.”
Monbulk local Anita Harris made her vote alongside her 18-year-old daughter, said her decision was based around getting local businesses up and running post-Covid, infrastructure and the conservation of the local environment.
“Building things that are more attractive to tourists…we’ve got an rain forest around us, we’ve got amazing festivals…people drive through [Monbulk] all the time, but we didn’t really have a lot of stuff to draw people in [during Covid],” Ms Harris said.
“For the young people we certainly need something more exciting; we don’t really have a nightlife out here…the opportunity is there [and] it would be really nice to see a fun, vibrant community that’s got something for everyone.”
Kathy lives in Upwey, and said the local primary school which her children attended needs upgrading.
“It’s not 100 per cent run down, but it needs updating severely. One of the rooms doesn’t have an air conditioner; that’s ridiculous in this day in age.
“The state of the roads is abysmal at this point…[and] that’s everywhere in the Hills at the moment.”
Monbulk’s Liberal Party candidate Gareth Ward said constituents have expressed anger at the sealing the roads project and the duplication of Wellington Road both being scrapped.
“I think I have as good a chance as anybody else. I don’t like to put too much thought into it; I’m focusing on each day,” Mr Ward said.
“As far as being a candidate goes, I’ve enjoyed every second of it much more than I thought I would, and it’s been a real eye opening experience and very rewarding.”
Labor Party candidate for Monbulk, Daniela De Martino, said she is “cautiously optimistic” at her chances of holding the seat of Monbulk, following on from James Merlino’s 20-year tenure as Monbulk MP.
“A lot of people are really happy about the work that’s being done at the Angliss… stage two is being brought forward, [with] 32 new beds, [a] new ward and four operating theatres, and that’s great because the Angliss is such an important hospital for this area,” Ms De Martino said.
“The work that we’ve done amongst a number of schools throughout the electorate is being being taken up well, and there’s a lot of excitement about our promise for $8.77 million for Emerald Secondary… because that is the major school for the Eastern Dandenong Ranges.”
Independent candidate Johanna Skelton said she sees a lot of benefits running for the seat of Monbulk the 2022 state election, including talking to other candidates.
“It’s a good chance for me to learn about general public’s issues, and also for me to talk to other candidates about the issues I already know about from the electorate,” Ms Skelton said.
“I’ve had a couple of people raise questions about the prison justice system, which is really important, but not one that I would have expected, and a lot of conversations about ending native forest clearing.”
Ms Skelton also said people have spoken to her about integrity in government and people looking for something different than the current system; which is also part of the reason another Independent canididate, Craig Cole, has chosen to run as a candidate for Monbulk in the election.
“You need someone finally that’s going to make a change and actually be a voice for the people in real terms,” Mr Cole said.
“I’ve spent 16 years in the community running programs for disengaged kids, both primary school and high school, so my investment in the community has always been pretty big, which is massively important.
“Families struggling to make ends meet even with two income families, so things have to change, and that’s why as an Independent I’ve put my hand up to run, as aligned with Australia One policy, values, aims and objectives as well too.”
For many, early voting has simply been a convenient and accessible option, sacrificing their democracy sausage for a shorter wait time in line; although lunch times do seem like the busiest time to head in for early voting which ends on Friday 25 November.
To vote in Monbulk, visit 88 Main Road.
Opening hours are 8.30am until 6pm on all days from Tuesday 22 November until Friday 25 November, besides Thursday 24 November when the centre is open until 8pm.
“I’m following the democracy sausage and I thought ‘I’ll just get it done today, and not worry about the crowds,'” Anita Harris said.
In the 2022 state election, the Monbulk electorate now includes Gembrook, Emerald, Cockatoo, Upper Ferntree Gully and parts of Ferntree Gully.
