Midwife Helen Haines, described as 'grounded', 'dogged', and of the same ilk as New Zealand's leader, has launched her election campaign to become Indi's next MP.
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Improvement of health and connectivity of services were key themes in goals Dr Haines outlined to nearly 300 'orange' supporters crammed into The Cube in Wodonga.
"The waiting list for home care packages is unacceptable; I will lobby for additional allocation of aged care packages in Indi," she said.
"I will champion to secure long-term funding for rural childcare.
"The excess funds from last year's underspend should be used to fix the NDIS' implementation problems.
"I will, like Cathy has over the last six years, do everything my role permits to drag along the major parties and the Federal bureaucracy to recognise rural and regional Australia."
Five speakers who have met Dr Haines during the 33 years she has lived in North East Victoria spoke to her character and skills at the launch.
Winemaker John Brown praised the authenticity and communication skills of the academic, obstetrician Leo Fogarty described her as a "genuine rural person", and former colleague Georgia Ramsden spoke about coming to know Dr Haines well when working on a medical research project together.
"After voting in the New Zealand election for Jacinda Ardern, I came into work the next day and asked Helen, 'When will you run for Prime Minister?' she said.
"I very much think they're made from the same mould.
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"Helen is an extraordinary listener and I think she has the ability to take into account the opinion of everyone who lives in our community."
Other supporters came from as far as Mansfield to wish their independent candidate well, holding cut-outs of a symbol for the campaign that's been dubbed 'the orange polly-bird'.
Dr Haines said the story that began with Cathy McGowan's election in 2013 would continue.
"A grassroots democractic movement was born ... the nation was impressed but perplexed ... how could this bunch of amateurs from rural Australia have pulled off the biggest electoral defeat in recent history?
"And then they did it again in 2016. And here we are again in 2019.
"We are more in charge now ... and Canberra knows it."
Outgoing Indi MP Cathy McGowan urged her 'orange army' to sway constituents "disappointed with the Liberals and Nationals" at Helen Haines' campaign launch.
"I reckon we could, and should capture that disillusioned vote," she said.
"People saying 'I don't like the government, I don't like what they did to Malcolm Turnbull', or their policies on refugees ... it's your chance to say 'Well, why don't you make a protest vote and give your first vote to Helen?
"I think in this particular electorate we could do really well with that line of argument; harvesting the discontent we know exists with in many ways this appalling government.
"The thing about being an independent is we have all the advantages and none of the disadvantages of being part of a party.
"We represent the community ... the Indi way works."