On Tour with The Kid | Humane Society

CHLOE O'SULLIVAN

In my family, voting is a very big deal. From the year I turned 18, we would go in person, often as a family. I have always numbered every box below the line because, as my mother taught me, some people actually deserve to be placed last. The process has become longer and longer each election cycle, but it always made me feel like I had earned my democracy sausage at the end. This year, however, on Election weekend, I was going to be away from home and needed to do a postal vote. It was a straightforward process, but I must admit I missed the ceremony.

I spent the day in a tiny little town in the Clarence Valley. Glenreagh is home to around 900 people, and the centre of town is The Golden Dog Hotel. This particular weekend as the wheels of democracy turned in the community hall across the road, the pub hosted the most Aussie festival ever. Mulletfest.

They were the most sensational crowd. From flowing locks on the tiniest contestants to a father and grown son with matching and, I must say, spectacular mullets. Very brave men and women, including the hotel's licensee, Steph, who all had brand new mullets cut in on the day to raise money for the Mark Hughes Foundation. When the auction items were on the block, including a one-of-a-kind bottle of Bundaberg Rum, the lively crowd had deep pockets.

In a very Aussie moment, the Rookie winner, with flowing red hair who was one of our freshly cut mullets, said she would keep her new cut till she found a husband. Eager to help in that department, all the single men gathered in the centre of the room. In lieu of flowers or a garter, we got a blushing hopeful bride to throw an empty can of Bundaberg Alcoholic Ginger Beer backwards over her head, and one young man was very happy to catch it.

While all this fun was happening, I could see all the political party signs set up outside the polling place across the road. I could see my fellow Australians going in and out, and I wondered what factored into their decisions and if there would be a change in government this time around? I knew that no matter how invested I was, for one family (the Nadesalingam family - who were still in community detention in Western Australia), the election results would be life-changing.

The results came in earlier than expected, Scomo had conceded, and just as that news filtered through the pub, we learned that an anonymous $5,000 had been given over the bar to the Mark Hughes Foundation. As the band packed up, they broke into a cappella version of Lean on Me as I stood there and hugged the kid and sang along. Compassion and the Aussie spirit felt like they had won the night.

Our news screens were filled with horrific news from Uvalde, Texas three days later. An 18-year-old legally purchased an assault rifle, fatally shot 19 children and two teachers, and wounded 17 others. This happened in a town the size of Singleton. I, like everyone, was heartbroken. But, I was also thankful that even the most conservative side of our political system did what was required to ensure that atrocities such as this were not an everyday reality in our country. It seems such an obvious and simple solution. Surely the lives of children matter more than greed and ego.

Mulletfest's next heat will be held at The Commercial Hotel in Dubbo on 20 August. For more information, visit www.mulletfest.com.au.

IMAGES: PAUL HUMBER