In my role representing a vast regional electorate, Mobile Offices are an essential part of being available to constituents.

Turning up in towns across Mallee and having a coffee or simply listening to residents ideas and issues is both enlightening and informative. My main office in Mildura is more than five hours’ drive from the south of my electorate.

So I take whatever opportunity I can, to get out and meet the community in different parts of the electorate.

Last week I drove to Swan Hill, Sea Lake, Woomelang and Hopetoun. Towns that make that old adage “when you visit a country town, you’ve visited one country town” ring true.

It is important to me that I am on the ground in these country towns to hear the issues of real families and businesses from those who live there.

People such as Hopetoun’s Lucas and Graeme Puckle, who raised their concerns about hereditary taxes and Labor’s new Superannuation legislation and the ramifications for their family farm.

Or Gwenyth Barbary and Phillip Jobson from Woomelang who gave me an update on the community, the independent living units and the old railway building.

Or Sea Lake’s Jennifer Simpson, and Loris who have great ideas for the old Carinya Hostel building for aged care in their community.

As they communicate their experiences me, I am better able to advocate for their community’s needs.