THEY talked around tables in Oxley Memorial Hall, cups of tea and scones with jam and cream on offer.
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This hotchpotch of activists, unionists, political party reps, students and would-be political candidates had a lot to talk about.
This was all about political campaigning, participatory democracy, and social media and marketing, as those behind independent Indi MP Cathy McGowan’s successful election campaign shared how they did it.
The IndiShares forum, hosted by grassroots movement Voices 4 Indi, attracted about 70 people keen to replicate Ms McGowan’s campaign on their home patches.
Displays set up in the corner gave a sneak peek into what Ms McGowan’s campaign headquarters may have looked like last year, replete with strategy board, volunteer values (mostly, play nice) and a doorknocking kit.
“Do not talk about the Liberals or (former MP) Sophie Mirabella”, it advised, “but instead the benefits of being a marginal electorate”.
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Among attendees was Bruce Argyle, a past president of the Healesville Chamber of Commerce and soon-to-be independent candidate for Eildon in the November state election.
Eildon takes in part of Nationals Bill Sykes’ old seat of Benalla, and is eyed by the Liberals’ Cindy McLeish, who has an estimated 7.7 per cent margin.
But Mr Argyle believes he’s in with a chance.
“There’s a push back from dissatisfaction with the major parties, local people don’t feel they’re being represented,” he said.
“Eildon is fertile ground for an independent and the response so far has been amazing.”
Another would-be independent, Andrew Gunter is interested in running an independent in Niddrie, a Labor-held seat in Melbourne’s north-west.
NSW could also see more independents in its own state election next year, with groups like Gasfield-Free Northern Rivers on board.
Danny Bethune, said the group has had a temporary win with the Bentley Blockade near Lismore but the area is surrounded in four electorates held by Nationals MPs who, he said, won’t oppose coal seam gas mining.
“In Lismore Shire, 87 per cent of residents said they don’t want it,” he said.
“We feel we’ve got a lack of real representation.”
However, some groups fear they wouldn’t be able to draw as many supporters as Ms McGowan’s squad of more than 600 volunteers.
Ms McGowan told them no one should expect to mimic the “Indi effect” exactly.
“Please don’t put me on a pedestal because I don’t belong on one,” she said.
“You need to find your own way.
“It has to suit your community, your situation or it won’t work.
“It’s easy to think there’s some secret ingredient but there’s not.”
