IT was an occasion 2767 days in the making. On Friday, Member for Goulburn Pru Goward finally set up shop in town.
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Ms Goward joined forces with removalists and staffers in setting up her Auburn Street office – situated between the National Australia Bank and the Post Office.
The move doubles as the first time Ms Goward has called the shots from Goulburn headquarters since winning a seat in Macquarie Street on March 24, 2007.
The former Sex Commissioner and journalist had previously operated out of conservative stronghold Bowral.
A restructure of seats by the NSW Electoral Commission forced her hand, however. Bowral and Mittagong were cut out of the seat of Goulburn, while the Yass Valley was included.
Ms Goward admitted she’s was relieved to be moving in – some three months after first signing lease papers.
“I’m going to have to reverse my car in around the corner, so that makes me a bit nervous,” the Planning Minister joked.
“Otherwise, it’s perfect.”
Ms Goward has had the office purposely fitted since first agreeing to terms in August. The electorate office is spread over six rooms and includes a constituent meeting area, soon to be fitted with a smart TV appropriate for voter-Minister conferences, a kitchen and storage area.
Ms Goward said the Auburn Street office was a step up from the previous Bong Bong Street operation in Bowral.
“We’ve had a chance to design our own office,” she explained.
The incumbent Member made it clear she would not apply to set up a campaign office, insisting she’d make election decisions either on the road or from Auburn Street.
“I’m not going to have a campaign office. Goulburn is the heart of the electorate,” she said.
“It’s not hard to go to Yass or Moss Vale to campaign.”
The Liberal Cabinet Minister admits she enjoys hitting the hustings and thrives on the challenge posed by elections.
Her narrow 2007 victory over independent candidate and former Goulburn mayor Paul Stephenson is proof.
Ms Goward said a change of electoral boundaries and capable Labor candidates posed obstacles of their own.
“This is democracy, Labor should be campaigning hard,” she continued.
“[Mittagong and Bowral] they were strong Liberal areas, but the Yass, Boorowa, Harden, Murrumbateman areas are also very strong for the Coalition.
“This is a big electorate. It’s 17,000 square kilometres now. That makes campaigning more difficult. It’s going to be a different sort of campaign.”
Ms Goward’s foremost rival will come from Labor Party ranks.
At present, three candidates have been shortlisted for the position. Former federal Senator Ursula Stephens has put up her hand, as has Goulburn Mulwaree Councillor Robin Saville.
The third nominee comes in the form of Yass-based Anna Ritson – a rally car driver and data analyst with the Australian Institute of Health.
The NSW Labor Executive is expected to settle on its candidate by the end of the month.
Others who’ve thrown their hats in the ring include Green Iain Fyfe – a candidate for the seat of Burrinjuck at the 2007 election – and Christian Democrat Adrian Van Der Byl.