SAUSAGES, slices and stacks of firewood. These were some of the images from across the Bathurst electorate on polling day.
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Thousands of people descended on local school and church halls to cast their vote and they were not only met by party supporters handing out how-to-vote cards, but also a barbecues and stalls selling a wide range of tasty treats.
At O’Connell Public School, voters had the chance to buy a raffle ticket for the chance to win a load of firewood.
The raffle was in support of Penny and Mick Colley, who will be taking part in the Camp Quality Tractor Trek in September.
“We’ve been really lucky so we are doing it for people who need a hand,” Ms Colley said.
The trek leaves from Bathurst on September 18 for a 300-kilometre round trip before returning back to Bathurst on September 20.
Additional fundraisers for the trek will be run throughout the year.
Perthville resident Eunice O’Donnell had to interrupt her 97th birthday celebrations to cast her vote.
Ms O’Donnell’s daughter Jan McGuire was on hand to help, and following a quick vote at Perthville Public School’s polling booth, both women went back to celebrating.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Centre hosted a nostalgia display at the polling booth on Keppel Street.
On show were photographs from the 150-year history of the Cathedral of St Michael and St John, along with wedding and baptism gowns, as well as first communion dresses.
Jason Sargent and Paul Harvey were cooking up a feast at Millthorpe Public School to support three local girls who are heading overseas in the Australian Futsal Representation 2015 team.
The girls – Kallie Sargent, 14, Sarah Coleman, 15, and Taylah Sargent, 16 – are all ex-students of the school.
And while the main candidates in Saturday’s poll covered plenty of kilometres across the electorate, spare a thought for their families.
By the time polling day was over, Joanne Toole – MP Paul Toole’s wife – had visited 20 polling booths to support the Nationals’ volunteers.
Along with her sister, Michelle Hodder, the pair delivered sandwiches, lollies, fruit and water to the volunteers who gave up their Saturday in support of the party.
“We want to get to at least 20 venues so we have to work fast,” Mrs Toole said. “We just wanted our volunteers to know how much we appreciate their hard work.”
