SAY what you want about their policies, but when it comes to our election candidates’ knowledge of Goulburn (the regional city, that is), Pru Goward is ahead of the pack.
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Liberal Ms Goward, - who yesterday drew the top spot in yesterday’s ballot draw - scored a near perfect 19 out of 20 in the Goulburn Post’s exclusive Goulburn Citizenship Test which challenged candidates on their knowledge of the electorate’s biggest centre.
Independent candidate Rob Parker scored 13 while The Greens’ Maree Byrne achieved a pass mark of 10. She admitted to not knowing who was the Mayor of Goulburn Mulwaree.
Christian Democrat Adrian Van der Byl scored 8 while Labor’s hope Crystal Validakis declined to take part. MUCH has been made of the fact that in the coming state election most of the candidates are based in the Southern Highlands.
The latest candidate, Labor’s Crystal Validakis, comes from even further afield – in Strathfield. As a result, we have received a lot of comment through our pages and online about whether the candidates know much about this end of the electorate – the City that it is named after that has historically been regarded as the centre of the electorate.
To test just how much our candidates know about this city which they would represent, the Post devised a test that we felt any average Goulburn person would pass. We deliberately chose very easy questions. We then tried it out on most of our staff and even our two nearest journalists that only started here in December got 19 and 20 respectively.
We then rang or visited each candidate and asked each these questions without any warning. For the record, the Mayor Geoff Kettle scored a perfect 20 out of 20 on the test.
Goulburn Post editor Gerard Walsh said the test results should be an indicator of how serious the candidates are about Goulburn the city.
“If a candidate did not know who the mayor was or couldn’t name our major water storages, then we should think seriously about voting for them to represent us,” he said.
“This might be a little fun but there’s a serious side too. I think it says a lot about the lack of genuine concern at least three of the candidates have for Goulburn and its people.”
The questions:
1. How much is an adult ticket at the Lilac City Cinema?
2. Who’s the mayor of Goulburn Mulwaree?
3. Which Goulburn raised rugby league player had his biggest year in the NRL last year?
4. What is the Big Merino’s nickname?
5. What is the main street of Goulburn?
6. What is the name of Goulburn’s biggest shopping centre?
7. How much is the Goulburn Post?
8. What is the name of the park in the centre of town?
9. What is the name of the famous restaurant opposite the Post Office?
10. Name at least one of Goulburn’s historic Cathedrals?
11.What street is the Goulburn Pool in?
12. What significant building is located on Rocky Hill?
13. What is the name of Goulburn’s major water supply?
14. How many secondary schools are there in Goulburn?
15. What is the name of Goulburn’s major rugby league team?
16. What agricultural industry is Goulburn famous for?
17. Which town is bigger – Crookwell or Taralga?
18. What musical festival happens in Goulburn in February?
19. What is Goulburn’s main floral festival held in October each year?
20. Name one Goulburn Olympian?
The answers:
1 - $8 for adult or $7 for kids (we would accept both); 2 – Geoff Kettle; 3 – Todd Carney (would accept Jarrod Croker); 4 – Rambo; 5 – Auburn Street; 6 – Centro Goulburn; 7 - $1.50; 8 - Belmore Park (would accept Victoria); 9 – Paragon; 10 – St Saviour’s or St Peter’s and Paul’s; 11 – Deccan Street; 12 – War Memorial; 13 – Would accept either Sooley Dam or Pejar Dam; 14 – Three (would accept four including some students at the Brethren School); 15 - The Workers Bulldogs; 16 – Wool (would accept sheep); 17 – Crookwell; 18 – Australian Blues Music Festival; 19 – Lilac Time; 20 – Michael Diamond, Dunc Gray, Bianca Netzler, Marty Rabjohns, Errol Bill, Keith Leeson, Glen Jobson, John Whip and David McPherson (we think that’s the list).For how the candidates answered, click here .