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So are we – and there’s still 24 days to run of the federal election campaign.
That’s why instead of serving you up weasel words and policy positions, we’ve decided to slice through the pollie-speak and find out what sort of person you’re really voting for.
Find out who inspires your candidate most, what moves them to tears and even what their death row meal would be.
Paul Funnell
Party: Democratic Labor Party
Age: 50
Marital status: Married with four children
Occupation: Irrigation farmer/contractor
What would you do with your last $10?
I’d spend it on my wife and children.
Which three people from history would you most like to have dinner with?
Ex-Australian prime minister Ben Chifley, Pope John Paul II and Edward “Weary” Dunlop - he has an incredible story.
When was the last time you cried?
I cried on the weekend when I was watching the Christmas Special of Downton Abbey and Matthew died.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with in Canberra?
Kevin Rudd.
What’s the first album you ever bought?
Sherbert.
Do you support gay marriage?
No.
Have you ever smoked marijuana?
No, never.
Why is the Riverina the greatest place to live?
Because it has everything we need right here. We have culture but it’s still the bush, we have city but it’s still the country, we have amazing people - it’s just a beautiful part of the world.
What would be your death row meal?
It’d have to be a good Aussie meat pie with chips and gravy.
What do you do to relax?
I’m a bit of a TV junkie so I watch a bit of TV to kick back and relax, but otherwise I really enjoy spending time with my family.
Tim Kurylowicz
Party: Australian Labor Party
Age: 31
Marital status: Married
Occupation: Community worker
What would you do with your last $10?
I’d go to a cheap CD store and buy myself a CD. I’m a tragic for a new album.
Which three people from history would you most like to have dinner with?
Buzz Aldrin, Archbishop Rowan Williams and 200m sprinter Peter Norman.
When was the last time you cried?
Very recently, my favourite uncle died on the weekend. I’ll miss him very much.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with in Canberra?
Probably Chris Pyne. I don’t like his voice.
What’s the first album you ever bought?
It was 10 by Pearl Jam.
Do you support gay marriage?
Yes, I do.
Have you ever smoked marijuana?
Once, on a tropical island in Africa.
Why is the Riverina the greatest place to live?
It’s got everything. The golden afternoon sunlight. Everything good to eat grows here. The people in the Riverina would give anyone a go.
What would be your death row meal?
Mashed potatoes with gravy. Followed by ice cream.
What do you do to relax?
I garden. I run with my dog and I love to listen to records.
Michael McCormack
Party: National Party
Age: 49
Marital status: Married with three children
Occupation: Member of Parliament
What would you do with your last $10?
I’d give it to my kids.
Which three people from history would you most like to have dinner with?
JFK, Jesus and Dorothea Mackellar.
When was the last time you cried?
When my father, Lance, died in 2008.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with in Canberra?
I get on pretty well with everybody, there’s no-one I wouldn’t want to be in there with.
What’s the first album you ever bought?
Probably Ol’ 55 or AC/DC.
Do you support gay marriage?
No.
Have you ever smoked marijuana?
No, I haven’t even smoked a cigarette.
Why is the Riverina the greatest place to live?
Because it’s got a bit of everything. It stretches from the snowfields to the red plains, the people are fantastic – they’re far more relaxed than the city people and they’re very resilient. They’re good country people with good country values.
What would be your death row meal?
One of my wife’s lamb roasts.
What do you do to relax?
I love watching my kids play sport. I also like to read and I’m an avid World War I historian and I love spending time with my family.
Keith Pech
Party: Christian Democrats
Age: 52
Marital status: Married with one child (from a prior marriage)
Occupation: Barista
What would you do with your last $10?
It wouldn’t be much good to me so I’d find someone to give it to who it’d be useful for.
Which three people from history would you most like to have dinner with?
Jesus Christ, Winston Churchill and Billy Graham.
When was the last time you cried?
It was only a few days ago when my daughter left to go to America for a few months.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with in Canberra?
That’s a tough one for me because you can learn something from everybody.
What’s the first album you ever bought?
It was Deep Purple Made in Japan.
Do you support gay marriage?
No.
Have you ever smoked marijuana?
Yes, I wasn’t such a good boy in my teens. I had a rebellious streak.
Why is the Riverina the greatest place to live?
Broadly, because it’s in Australia and Australia is the best place in the world. But also because it’s the centre of a lot of places. There’s so much to see and do and there’s a lot of good people around here.
What would be your death row meal?
A top quality rump steak cooked medium-rare with chips and vegetables. And a big bowl of ice cream.
What do you do to relax?
I find a run or a bike ride can be very relaxing or just sitting back watching Geelong win the footy. Or spending time with my wife.
Ros Prangnell
Party: The Greens
Age: 56
Marital status: Married with three children
Occupation: Agricultural technician
What would you do with your last $10?
I’d go and buy a whole heap of vegetable seeds.
Which three people from history would you most like to have dinner with?
Nelson Mandella, Ghandi and slain Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
When was the last time you cried?
Every time I chop onions.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with in Canberra?
Tony Abbott.
What’s the first album you ever bought?
I think it was probably the Beatles.
Do you support gay marriage?
Yes.
Have you ever smoked marijuana?
Yes I have – it was a test case.
Why is the Riverina the greatest place to live?
For me, it’s my familial roots. I think everyone has a bond with the place they were born.
What would be your death row meal?
Chocolate - the world’s most expensive chocolate.
What do you do to relax?
I like gardening – I’m on six acres at home.
Lorraine Sharp
Party: Australia First
Age: 47
Marital status: Married with five children
Occupation: Truck driver
What would you do with your last $10?
I’d probably get my kids a feed. I have five kids so I’d have to get $10 worth of chips or something.
Which three people from history would you most like to have dinner with?
Jesus would be one. Most people would say famous people but they’re pretty mundane - I’d like to talk to a very poor person and a very rich person from the 17 or 1800s.
When was the last time you cried?
I’m a very hard person but the last time I cried would’ve been when my father passed away last year. I get upset but I’m not a person who cries easily - I do more laughing.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with in Canberra?
Sarah Hanson Young. That answer is pretty self-explanatory.
What’s the first album you ever bought?
I’m pretty sure it was Abba.
Do you support gay marriage?
I don’t but I don’t dictate how people live their lives either, that’s their personal choice.
Have you ever smoked marijuana?
Yes I have and yes I did inhale. The 80s was an incredible time. In those days, it was a lot weaker. Now it’s a lot stronger and these days, it can’t be considered a soft drug anymore. It’s concerning now.
Why is the Riverina the greatest place to live?
There are some really good things about it. I’ve met some really good people here, average people from all walks of life. And I love the wide open space, it gives you a really good feeling to just go for a drive.
What would be your death row meal?
It would have to be a big plate of vegetables, probably with cheese. And maybe an orange for dessert.
What do you do to relax?
I read. I read a lot of different things.
Lex Stewart
Party: Palmer United Party
Age: 62
Marital status: Married with four children
Occupation: Engineer consultant
What would you do with your last $10?
I’d buy some food I suppose. I wouldn’t buy a lottery ticket, I don’t ever buy those.
Which three people from history would you most like to have dinner with?
Albert Einstein, Queen Elizabeth II and Jesus Christ.
When was the last time you cried?
At the cemetery at the Bridge over the River Kwai. There was a huge field of grass and every half metre there was a marble plaque. That was a couple of years ago.
Who would you least like to be stuck in a lift with in Canberra?
There’s nobody. I’d love to have a good discussion with anybody, I’m not afraid of anyone. I have no enemies, I don’t dislike anyone.
What’s the first album you ever bought?
That’s going back to the 60s. I think it was probably Elvis Presley. I still play some of his songs but I get them on YouTube these days.
Do you support gay marriage?
In a word, no.
Have you ever smoked marijuana?
Once in 1967 – I was at school in year 11 and my best friend got hold of some.
Why is the Riverina the greatest place to live?
Food production is a noble thing. People are more real than in the Canberra bureaucracy. When people work hard, they have more character.
What would be your death row meal?
My wife’s spaghetti bolognese. I’ve never tasted better, even in a restaurant.
What do you do to relax?
I love rowing, I’ve been a rowing coach for many years. And I like bushwalking.
**Kim Heath from Rise Up was unavailable for comment.