Fundraiser for independent candidates, 501 Receptions, Barkly Street, West Footscray.

If local politics seems more interesting to me than the national and state equivalents, there are reasons.

For starters, many of the local issues overlap with the food-based concerns that are Consider The Sauce’s meat and potatoes.

 

 

As well, we’ve lived in the west for 15 years now so many of the broader issues impact on us. And on the local, municipal level there lives the reality our communities can make a difference in how and what decisions are made.

And inevitably, after all such time living in the west, I know people actively involved in local politics.

 

 

But none of the above would normally be sufficient to entice me to attend a fundraiser for a bevy of Maribyrnong council candidates.

But in this case there were other mitigating factors that helped me take the plunge.

 

 

For one, CTS pal Mia McGregor is one of those candidates.

For another, the event was being held at 501 Receptions on Barkly Street in West Footscray.

 

 

This famous operation is soon to be history, so I was keen to get to at least one event there before it disappears forever.

Seems like all the public events there in recent years have been for women only – not that I have any problem with that.

 

 

And there was food!

Truth be told, the Cantonese tucker laid out by the in-house catering crew was serviceable more than anything else.

 

 

But otherwise, I had a ball.

I found it fascinating talking with Mia about the steep learning on which she is travelling.

 

 

Likewise with her dad Ray, who is acting as Mia’s campaign manager.

And I enjoyed a good conversation with retiring councillor, and former mayor, Nam Quach.

 

 

While the slate of indie candidates being spruiked is quite diverse, the whole shebang was very much the product – in terms of organisation – of the local Vietnamese community.

So I loved getting insights from Cr Quach about the nature and dynamics of local politics.

In terms of dress code, I was definitely the under-dressed (hairless) hippie!