Granted the last minute change of venue didn’t help but still, I was saddened by the lack of interest from Cowra people in the visit to our town by two election candidates – Nationals’ Katrina Hodgkinson and Country Labor’s Charlie Sheahan. 

At one point there, it was a very empty room. 

Graham O’Neill points out a very valid point – for the first time in quite a while, Cowra is NOT competing with a major regional centre such as Orange or Goulburn for votes.

Too often in the past we have watched the money and attention go to the larger regional centres, with Cowra playing poorer rural cousin. 

Off the top of my head, Cowra, Young, Cootamundra and Narrandera are the larger centres now in the new Cootamundra electorates (there could be more, I haven’t got the map in front if me as I write this) placing these communities in prime position.

For example, if you were a candidate seeking maximum votes, wouldn’t you be listening to these larger communities, where the votes are?

So, really Monday was a wasted opportunity for Cowra voters if you were wanting to catch the attention of candidates. 

Let’s listen to wise people like Graham O’Neill and ask more, question more and use the fact that Cowra is in a much better electoral position it seems than in recent years.

If you have a question you would like asked of the candidates, feel free to send it through to me  - janine.finlayson@fairfaxmedia.com.au