“There’s that real feel of change in the air and there’s this real understanding that we’re going to make this seat marginal,” Ovens Valley candidate Ms Atkins said on Tuesday at her official office opening.

“But we’re in it to win it, we’re throwing the kitchen sink at this.”

She said it was great to see a wave of independent candidates, including Jenny O’Connor and Jacqui Hawkins in Benambra, running in November’s election.

“In the North East here, it’s really worth watching,” she said.

“I think something has happened as a result of Voices for Indi, we put the community back in politics.”

Just over a month away from the election, the Labor Party still has  not announced its own candidate for Ovens Valley.

“I’m really not focused on anyone else’s campaign, there’s only so much you can focus on,” Ms Atkins said.

“I’m really blown away by the level of support, having an office makes such a difference.”

Hume Regional Development Association chair Susan Benedyka has known Ms Atkins for 14 years and described her as a person full of energy, who has a vision to do something for the community.

In that time Ms Atkins has worked for Liberal MP Sophie Mirabella, nominated to run for the Nationals, then joined Voices for Indi which helped Cathy McGowan become elected as an independent.

“Running as an independent (in Ovens Valley) starts to complete that lovely cycle in this region,” Ms Benedyka said.