Her toppling of Sophie Mirabella, would-be minister in a Liberal Party government, in 2013 and a rematch between the pair in the 2016 federal election fuelled that interest. 

Now neither of those women will contest this year's election.

With Ms McGowan's departure, fascination with Indi from a national point-of-view switched to whether Nationals deputy leader Senator Bridget McKenzie would contest the seat.

Perhaps with an eye on the polls and having the security of a place in the Upper House until 2022, Senator McKenzie decided she would not be a nominee for Indi, despite shifting her office to Wodonga.

With other higher profile independent challengers emerging to take on former prime minister Tony Abbott in Warringah and treasurer Josh Frydenberg in Kooyong the metropolitan media are unlikely to have the same fascination with Indi during this election campaign.

However, Senator McKenzie's presence on the Border has resulted in those involved in the National Press Club deciding to break with tradition.

It is a rite of passage for political leaders, ranging from Sir Robert Menzies to his prime ministerial successor Scott Morrison, to address the Canberra-based club, whose history dates back to 1963.

Now for the first time, the club is staging one of its luncheons outside a capital city with Senator McKenzie to speak on the topic Connecting the regions; It’s in the National Interest.  

With the event at The Cube to be televised nationally on the ABC, it will be an opportunity for Wodonga to receive widespread recognition.

The club is to be congratulated for staging an event outside the shadow of Parliament House and hopefully it will be the start of a habit.

Of course perceptions of country life vary, so in the future having speakers beyond the Nationals would also be welcome.