Flinders: Nervous and excited candidates not expecting a result on election day
One candidate gave out marshmallow snowballs with how to vote cards while another raced around all 36 booths to secure final votes in the fight for Flinders.
South East
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Their policies may be poles apart but the most talked about candidates for Flinders found common ground on election day – the race is too tight to call.
Liberal candidate Zoe McKenzie, who is hoping to replace veteran Minister Greg Hunt, said despite visiting all 36 polling booths on Saturday she wasn’t able to predict which way the votes would fall.
“I can’t call it nationally, or locally,” Ms McKenzie said.
“The day was very positive for me and people were warm and enthusiastic about discussing their ideas.
“But as we’ve seen recently in South Australia and Tasmania (state elections) when the swing’s on, it’s on.
“I don’t have a vibe about how things will go here tonight.
“We may well be waiting until tomorrow to see a result.”
Ms McKenzie has been joined on the hustings by “team Liberal” – Mornington candidate Chris Crewther, Nepean candidate Sam Groth and Hastings candidate Briony Hutton.
She said the support from the state candidates was crucial.
“There’s $360 million in federal funds sitting there waiting to be spent in Flinders and because the current State Government won’t work with us, it’s not happening,” Ms McKenzie said.
“Working together across all levels of government is the best way to get things done.”
There was also plenty of collaboration between parties on show at Mount Martha Primary School on Saturday morning.
Campaign manager for ALP candidate Surbhi Snowball was spotted handing out how to vote cards for the Animal Justice Party.
“We got to know Pamela (Engelander) and her team them during prepoll,” Ms D’Arcy said.
“We have three people here handing out cards and the moment and they have no volunteers so I’m just lending a hand.”
The how to vote card for the Pamela Engelander directs her second preference to Ms Snowball.
Ms Snowball agreed with Ms McKenzie about the chance of a result on Saturday night.
“I don’t think we’ll know tonight,” she said.
“I’m nervous but excited to see the results of all our work.”
To help sweeten her vote Ms Snowball was handed out chocolate-coated marshmallow snowballs with her how to vote cards.
“They’ve been pretty popular,” she said.
“And with a name like Snowball, I couldn’t resist!”
The treat wasn’t the only unusual item on offer at the booth.
A pair of entrepreneurial students were selling home grown olives.
Luca and Kieran, both 12, decided to take advantage of the election crowd to earn some cash selling fresh picked and brined olives.
Teal independent Despi O’Connor spent the day campaigning in Mount Martha and Mornington.
“I’m feeling positive,” she said.
“I know I’m in my heartland but there’s been a lot of support today.”
She was hoping for a long wait for a result.
“The longer it takes the better it is for me,” she said.