THERE were many reasons why party faithful rugged up on Saturday to show their support for Calare’s federal election candidates.
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Hundreds of party supporters attended polling booths across Calare to hand out how to vote cards and answer questions from voters.
Among them was Brett Kenworthy who had volunteered his Saturday to help out at the Catholic Cathedral Parish Centre polling booth.
He has been a long-time supporter of the Nationals, and some independents, and has volunteered his time at state and federal elections for the past 12 years.
“The fact that we have a right to vote is an absolute privilege,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter who you vote for, as long as you think about it before you do it.”
Mr Kenworthy said their is camaraderie between party supporters who, like him, are regulars on election days.
“I’ve been doing this for years and it’s about the fact that we live in the best country and we have the best time when we have elections,” he said.
'The fact that we have a right to vote is an absolute privilege.'
- Brett Kenworthy, Nationals party supporter
While Juanita Kwok, who was supporting The Greens at Bathurst South Public School, said it was all about policies for her.
“I’ve met Delanie Sky and she’s a fantastic candidate and she stands for things I believe in, in particular supporting asylum seekers and closing down detention centres in Manus and Nauru islands,” she said.
In support of Country Labor candidate Jess Jennings, was Peter Simmons at Bathurst South Public School.
He braved the cold weather for what was his 10th time as a party supporter during an election.
“He’s [Dr Jennings] got a very intelligent and compassionate attitude to just about every issue,” he said.
“I think he does an awful lot the community and would make a great representative for the Bathurst area.”
State Member for Bathurst Paul Toole was at Bathurst Public School on Saturday in support of Nationals’ Andrew Gee.
Mr Toole said it was important that Nationals members are supportive of each other during elections.
In support of Rod Bloomfield for the Nick Xenophon Team was party faithful Libby Dreyer.
The first-timer to help at an election said she hoped Calare would become a more marginal seat following the election.
“I think Calare deserves more federal attention,” she said. “It’d be great to see it become a more marginal seat.
“I think the NXT are a great addition to the two major parties because they’re right in the centre and have some different policies happening.”
Of the 85 polling booths in Calare, Andrew Gee and his wife Tina chose to cast their vote at Kelso Public School on Saturday afternoon.
