Walcha Shire will switch back into the Tamworth Electorate for the upcoming state election on March 28, leaving the Northern Tablelands and its National Party incumbent Adam Marshall behind.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
From the 1950s until the 1981 election, Walcha was included in the Armidale Electorate and for much of that time the Country Party held the seat, except for the 1953 election, which was won by the Labor candidate Jim Cahill.
At the 1981 election, the seat of Armidale was renamed Northern Tablelands and was back into Labor’s hands when Bill McCarthy won and held the seat for two terms.
The first time the shire swapped into the Tamworth Electorate was in 1988, when Independent Tony Windsor was elected. Mr Windsor held his state seat in the two successive elections until he resigned to take on federal politics.
Walcha remained as part of the Tamworth Electorate under Mr Windsor’s state replacement, Independent Peter Draper until the 2007 election, which saw another boundary change and Walcha falling within the Northern Tablelands – under the leadership of another Independent Richard Torbay – once again.
Seven candidates have nominated for the 2015 election and in the draw for ballot paper positions last Thursday, Independent Peter Draper received the top spot.
The ballot was held at the pre-polling centre in Tamworth at 2pm last Thursday.
The Nationals Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson drew sixth place.
Crossing the
boundary again
The ballot paper will appear as follows:
1. Peter Draper - Independent
2. Pat Schultz - The Greens
3. Richard Nock - No Land Tax
4. Joe Hillard - Country Labor
5. Michelle Ryan - Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)
6. Kevin Anderson - The Nationals
7. Stan Heuston
There will be no pre-polling booths in Walcha, so residents who will not be able to vote on Saturday, March 28 will have to register to vote online, via phone or organise a postal vote. More information about the poll and voting options is available at votensw.info or call 1300 135 736.