THE names are in, the flag has dropped and the race is on for seats on the Bass Coast Shire Council and three candidates have already had a win of sorts in the ballot draw staged on Wednesday this week.
They are sitting councillor Ron Bauer in the Island ward, Caitlyn Robertson in the Bunurong ward and Jon Temby in the Western Port ward.
All three have drawn the number one position on the ballot, worth upwards of 5 per cent of the vote, especially among those electors who don’t know the candidates but simply want to avoid the $96 fine.
Ron Bauer was delighted when VEC Election Manager Graeme Patterson hit the button on the ballot draw computer and his name shuffled to the top with the number 1 beside his name.
“Yay. Does that mean I win a new car?” said Cr Bauer.
He doesn’t get a car but the top position on the ballot could prove crucial in an election where there are nine candidates vying for the three Island ward positions on council.
“It used to be worth 5% or 10% once but people take a lot more interest in who they are voting for these days, so maybe 3% but I’m not complaining,” said Ron after the ballot draw.
“Much more important is the very strong expression of community sentiment in Cowes last night (meet the candidates’ night) that people want the council to get on with developing the sports precinct as a matter of urgency,” he said quickly changing tack to the issue of the day on Phillip Island.
Jon Temby of West Creek (not Tenby Point!) was just as pleased to have drawn the top position in Western Port ward.
“We’ve been coming to the area since I was 6 or 7 years old and moved here permanently when I retired. People have urged me to run because of my professional experience on boards and in risk management here and overseas. I think I’ve got something to bring to the table.”
With previous experience in farming, Jon also has a strong environmental bent as a member of the Gippsland Threatened Species Action Group and also a recently recruited member of the Save Western Port Woodlands Group.
Bunurong ward candidate Caitlyn Robertson was also “delighted”.
“Delighted, of course, but I think it’s just terrific to see so many people passionate about making this area the best it can be. I’m really impressed to see nine candidates, all with something to offer, prepared to put their hand up and work to make Bass Coast a better place. It can only be a good thing,” said Caitlyn this week.
While much of the tradition has gone out of the computer-generated ballot draw these days, election manager Graeme Patterson had one of time-honoured ‘bingo ball’ style machines on standby, with 10 wooden balls in case the computer failed.
“These haven’t been used in state elections since 1999 and council elections since 2008 but we’ve got one on standby in case the computer system fails,” said Mr Patterson.
It didn’t fail and the ballot draw in each of the three wards came up on the screen in a matter of seconds.
The candidates in Bunurong ward, covering most of Wonthaggi, Cape Paterson, Inverloch and rural areas east of Wonthaggi are (in ballot order): 1. Caitlyn Robertson. 2. Brett Tessari. 3.
Meg Edwards. 4. Prudence Scholtes. 5. Brian Robinson. 6. Eddie Halaijian. 7. Mat Morgan. 8. Leticia Laing. 9. Les Larke.
The candidates in Island ward, covering all of Phillip Island are (in ballot order): 1. Ron Bauer. 2. Darrell Silva. 3. Marnie Chadwick. 4. Tracey Bell. 5. David Rooks. 6. John Trigt. 7. Tim O’Brien.
The candidates in Western Port ward, covering North Wonthaggi, Dalyston, Kilcunda, San Remo, the Waterline towns and rural areas from Archies Creek and Lance Creek to the outskirts of Lang Lang and Loch are (in ballot order): 1. Jon Temby. 2. Rachelle Halstead. 3. Glenda Minty. 4. Brian O’Farrell. 5. Nikole Schellekens. 6. Janice Thompson.
