What you didn’t know about Mackellar’s candidates ahead of the Federal Election
Want to know Jason Falinski’s bagpipe and cheese making playing skills or what Alice Thompson gets up to on her weekends? If so then this guide to the seven Mackellar candidates is for you.
Mackellar, with most of its 233 square kilometres made up of national park and spectacular beaches, is one of the most physically beautiful electorates in NSW.
Taking in suburbs from Dee Why to Palm Beach and west to Frenchs Forest, Belrose, Davidson and parts of Forestville, Mackellar has had only four MPs since it was created in 1949 — all Liberals.
Six candidates have put their names forward to take on sitting moderate MP Jason Falinski who attracted 65 per cent of the two-party preferred vote at the 2016 election.
But what about the real men and women behind the election posters? The personalities behind the party branding?
As way of an introduction we asked the seven Mackellar candidates to reveal some secrets voters don’t know about them. Their answers may surprise you.
Tomorrow at manlydaily.com.au we will bring you the candidates’ policy platforms and let you know where they stand on the big issues.
1. David Lyons, United Australia Party
David was born in Sydney, but grew up mainly in Canberra in a Public Service family.
He spent a year at school in London when his father had an overseas’ posting with the Department of Defence.
The computer system and business IT software developer is interested in history, technology and finance and has taught aluminium-welding and electronics at Hackerspaces around Australia, Japan and Europe.
Two things you may not know about...
David has laid claim to producing the original business-case that led to the Sydney Desalination Plant becoming a reality by proving the use of renewable energy to power it.
His “hobby” is working on plastic recycling ideas that could be used to solve farmers’ drought problems in NSW including working out a way to make water flow uphill and over distance without using electricity.
2. Suzanne Daley, Sustainable Australia Party
The Newport GP, born in Sydney’s western suburbs, ran for the Sustainable Australia Party in the NSW Election for the seat of Pittwater in March. She received almost four per cent of the first preference votes.
Suzanne entered politics to help the younger generation who feel stressed and overwhelmed by society’s problems with climate change at the top of the list of concerns.
She has also been a prominent voice in the campaign to retain and return services to Mona Vale Hospital.
Two things you may not know about...
Suzanne, who enjoys sailing and travel, received one of the first Whitlam Scholarships that enabled her to finish high school and then go on to study medicine at the University of NSW.
She has trained in counselling and has a Diploma of Clinical Hypnosis.
3. Alice Thompson, Independent
Alice, a transport and urban expert, is a former adviser to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who originally put her hat in the ring against Warringah MP Tony Abbott, but withdrew when Zali Steggall entered the contest.
Ms Thompson, of Elanora Heights, loves the outdoors and is encouraging her young family to embrace nature and sports.
Two things you may not know about...
Alice has a unique and uncanny ability to find things that other people have lost, but can’t seem to find her own car keys when they are misplaced.
She has a collection of field guides for almost every class of animal or plant to help her, and her two little boys, explore local bushland.
4. Pru Wawn, Greens
Pru is a long time Avalon resident and former visual arts teacher at Mosman High School who retired in 2016 to focus on environmental activism full-time.
The artist said she put down her painter’s brush and joined the Greens in 2001 to focus on saving the environment rather than painting it.
Two things you may not know about...
Pru has worn a bottle suit and danced in a flash mob at Dee Why Beach to draw attention to plastic waste and recycling and has often been inside a large paper mache figure, representing Nurse Draddy — a symbol of the lost Mona Vale Maternity Department, manipulating her long arms.
5. Declan Steele, Labor
The Macquarie University business administration student from Collaroy also works as an optical dispenser.
Two things you may not know about...
Friends and family have told Declan he should be a newsreader on SBS due to his knack for pronouncing obscure and incomprehensible foreign names.
He is also a bit of a car nerd and loves who could read Wheels and watch Top Gear all day long.
6. Jason Falinski, Liberal
Jason, born in Manly and living in Collaroy and elected as the MP for Mackellar at the 2016 election.
He also served on the former Warringah Council for four years and has more than 25 years’ experience in business, including founding his own company in 2004 designing and manufacturing health care equipment and furniture for age care homes and hospitals.
Two things you may not know about...
Jason’s father’s family left persecution and the horrors of the USSR in search of a better life.
The 80s music tragic can play the bagpipes (poorly) and makes his own goats’ cheese at home.
7. Gregory Levett, Christian Democratic Party — Fred Nile
Mr Levett did not respond to request for comment.
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