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Issue #215 – Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Albury Wodonga’s largest circulating newspaper
The year that was This first edition back of NewsWeekly will take the opportunity to look back on the highs and lows of 2013. For the year’s biggest newsmakers, best photos, most impacting front pages and profound quotes. FOR DETAILS TURN TO PAGE 4
Year of the Cath 2013 PERSON OF THE YEAR By DANNY BUTTLER FOR everyone except rusted-on Liberal Party members, Cathy McGowan was the feelgood story of 2013. The Indigo Valley farmer won support from Wodonga to Alexandra as she swept to an unlikely and historic victory as the Independent candidate for the federal seat of Indi. For her efforts in restoring dignity, passion and common-sense to local politics, the Albury Wodonga News Weekly had no hesitation in declaring Ms McGowan our Person of the Year. The battle for the north-east Victoria electorate won headlines across the nation as the McGowan-led Voice for Indi campaign threatened the Liberal stronghold of incumbent Sophie Mirabella. In a federal election that saw political cynicism reach new heights, the Indi campaign became a rallying call for those who still believed in the power of politics to affect genuine change. People who had never joined a political party flocked to join with disenchanted ALP, Liberal and National party members in supporting the McGowan campaign. This was genuine grassroots politics that energised the community. The campaign also had dramatic twists, with a knife-edge count keeping the result in doubt for more than a week after the polls closed on 7 September. The result became inevitable only after 1000 votes cast for Ms McGowan were found after being misplaced by polling staff.
Cathy McGowan and jubilant Voice for Indi campaigners at Parliament House in December. 112895 When the final vote was counted, there were just 431 votes separating the McGowan and Mirabella camps. Ms McGowan said that, while she ran as an Independent candidate, it was a community win and she did so with a strong backing of volunteers. She was never “in it alone”. “We couldn’t have achieved this result without the over 600 active volunteers who worked tirelessly behind the
scenes to engage the communities all across Indi,” she said. “All our volunteers followed the Voice for Indi values, particularly those of respect, and I think the people of Indi saw in us an alternative to the current political system.” In December, Ms McGowan’s supporters arrived en masse for her maiden speech to the House of Representatives.
The orange-clad army created an unusually festive mood in the nation’s capital as they enjoyed the culmination of their hard work. Ms McGowan said her first duty to the people of Indi was to find out what they wanted her to do for them. “I will listen: I will listen to the older people who have lost touch with their grandchildren, the teenagers who suffer with mental health issues (and
their families), the people who know what it is like to feel hardship, adversity and yet get on top of it.” She ended her speech quoting from Margaret Mead, another woman who sought to bring change to the world around her. “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
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