Volunteering for Clover

Clover speaks to the vollies with her impressive team.

You know I'm a bike nut, and part of a political party etc, so when Clover Moore mayor for Sydney called for volunteers, I felt duty bound to give some time. She put the bike lanes into the centre of Sydney's CBD while the papers, the state politicians, and commentators in general lambasted her as some crazy hippy lady. Despite what they say, she keeps on getting re-elected by listening to what people want. Sounds like something they should all be doing, rather than attending dinners with doners and allowing Packer to build the biggest casino/phallus on prime public land.

Me Marie, and the (still) Mayor of Sydney fundraiser dinner.

At the volunteer information night we nibbled on cheese and crackers, drank wine and wandered around meeting like minded people and the lady herself. I volunteered for voting booth info person.
This involves standing at the entrance during polling days (2 weeks of prepolling), handing out leaflets on how to vote, and answering odd questions. I met the sister of Tony Abbott (recent former prime minister of Oz), most of the other candidates and Ian Roberts a footballer famous when I was younger (Rugby League), really nice guy. A couple of guys explained that I couldn't possibly be gay since my shoes were too ugly and spattered with paint. Fair point.


She got about 60% of the primary vote, while the nearest competitor got about 15%. Listening to people, making decisions on principles and evidence, and making the decisions into concrete, got her an overwhelming vote. All in all great fun, and a great experience.

On a side note, my school mate Sean tells me our year 3 teacher Mrs Collins was Clover's mother. She was very strict and proper!