Rikkie Tyrrell, One Nation
Who is your footy team, which sport did you play as a kid, were you any good?
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Carlton. Because mum goes for Collingwood, so I did it to stir her up in my early 20s. I spent my entire childhood on the back of a horse and was pretty competitive, too. I sold my last horse when I was in hospital after the birth of my first child.
What was a typical Saturday, before the campaign trail called you to action; how did you spend the weekends?
Prior to running in the 2019 election, my weekends would see me fishing, exploring the local area, camping, gardening or chilling out with the family. Since then I haven’t had a typical weekend.
What is your perfect meal — entrée, main and dessert — and who are five people you would invite to dine with?
Entrée: A nice garlic bread with a light sprinkling of Parmesan cheese toasted on top.
Main: My homemade crumbed lamb cutlets, sided with an array of steamed veggies, honey carrots and mash.
Not sure there would be room for dessert. Those cutlets are so moorish.
Albert Einstein, Margaret Thatcher, Gina Rinehart, Robin Williams and my husband to share the experience of our amazing guests.
Where did you go to school, grow up and who were your biggest influences?
I finished Year 12 at Narooma High in 2000, grew up in Bermagui and I didn’t inspire to be like anyone in particular. I was happy to follow my own path and simply aimed to grow up into a good person who could independently take care of herself.
Tell me three countries you have visited and loved, when you went and why you loved them?
France: I found the French to be quite helpful every time I got lost in Paris, which was quite a lot! The history, architecture and culture make it easy to fall in love with France.
Belgium: Their markets are AMAZING. All locally grown, fresh produce sold on a weekly basis in the town square. We need more of that here. Local all the way!
Australia: No matter where I travel to in the world, our country is the best to return to. It’s home through and through.
Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, partner, anyone of note in the family tree? How many of them still live in the area?
Our family tree is full of quiet achievers happy to live life out of the spotlight. Apart from being the granddaughter of a woman who is an Essendon-raised niece to John Coleman (Coleman Medal namesake).
What did you binge watch during lockdown?
Bridgerton. But mainly enjoyed listening to music instead of watching any movies/shows.
Tell me three jobs you did in your lifetime and how you performed in those roles?
Head cook in a busy restaurant: Apparently I did well enough to not get any complaints or poison people. My husband still enjoys my cooking skills.
Property manager: My boss enjoyed leaving me in charge of the agency. I sold his house while he was away on holidays and he then was happy to sell the business and enjoy retirement. I still hold him in the highest of respect as one of my most admired employers.
Motherhood: Still working on it, but I am quite impressed that I have managed to create and raise two humans to this point without much ado. They are turning out to be good little people and I am proud of the mother I have been for them.
Jeff Davy, Citizens Party
Who is your footy team, which sport did you play as a kid, were you any good?
I support Hawthorn and Katunga. I played footy and cricket as a kid and, yes, I was pretty good.
What was a typical Saturday, before the campaign trail called you to action; how did you spend the weekends?
I usually work Saturdays, but when I knock off, I enjoy working in my veggie garden. When I can, I go fishing.
What is your perfect meal — entrée, main and dessert — and who are five people you would invite to dine with?
Oysters Kilpatrick, scotch fillet (medium) with mushroom sauce, and sticky date pudding. If I could turn back time I would love to dine with JFK, Abe Lincoln, King O’Malley, Alexander Hamilton and my mum.
Where did you go to school, grow up and who were your biggest influences?
I grew up and went to school in Numurkah. Biggest influences were my mum and dad.
Tell me three countries you have visited. And loved, when you went and why you loved them?
I haven’t had the opportunity to travel outside of Australia, but I did a trip down the Great Central Road and loved the isolation and vastness of this great country. I’ve also visited Cairns in Queensland, and the Rabbit Trap Hotel, in Albert, NSW, which is quintessential Australia.
Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, partner, anyone of note in the family tree? How many of them still live in the area?
My dad served in the army and is held in high regard by his entire family — Reginald Jenkins Davy. My great-grandfather came to Australia on ship called the The Foboron. He was a gentleman.
What did you binge watch during lockdown?
Yellowstone.
Tell me three jobs you did in your lifetime and how you performed in those roles?
I was secretary of the Katunga Football Club. I was a dairy farmer and did very well until the government deregulated the industry. I have also worked as a laser grader.
Dr Robert Peterson, United Australia Party
Which footy team do you follow? Which sport did you play as a kid? Were you any good?
North Melbourne. I played for North in the 1970s and played district seconds in cricket. My last game was in the 1974 grand final against Richmond before I started my medical career. (Editor’s note: Dr Peterson remains the club’s youngest ever player at 16 years and one month, a record that will never be broken under today’s rules. He played 79 games and kicked 109 goals, including seven goals against Geelong at Arden St in one match.)
What did a typical Saturday look like before the campaign trail called you to action?
Saturday is my golf day. I am playing off 13 at the moment. I still follow the (Seymour) football club, where I have been the doctor, chairman of selectors and on the committee. (Editor: Dr Peterson is a gifted sportsman, a left-handed golfer and is a life member of the golf and cricket clubs at Seymour.)
What is your perfect meal — entrée, main and dessert — and who are five people you would invite to dine with?
Calamari, steak and then fruit salad. I couldn’t enjoy the dinner without a couple of my mates, so I would invite Colin Kerris and Peter Morris; John Adams, the economist; Bob Hope, if he was still alive; and Cameron Smith, the golfer.
Where did you go to school and grow up and who were your biggest influences?
I grew up in the housing commission area of North Melbourne and went to Errol Street State School, which was only a kilometre from the football ground. I was the very last born-and-bred North player, but John Dugdale (North Melbourne legend) was a student there and so were my brothers. One of my older brothers was club doctor at North Melbourne for years. I went to University High and then on to Melbourne University, where I studied medicine.
Tell me three countries you have visited and loved. When did you go and why did you love them?
Italy. I have been there a few times. I love the history of Rome, along with the diversity and renaissance culture.
Pacific Islands. The beauty of the landscape and their way of life, in particular Tahiti and New Caledonia.
New Zealand. I enjoy its people and its proximity to Australia. I’ve been half-a-dozen times, the last time was to see my son Stuart in his first Ironman adventure at Lake Taupu in 2008.
Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, partner — anyone of note in the family tree? How many of them still live in the area?
Three brothers — one is a retired GP, the other two are retired engineers. My sister is a retired school teacher. I am the last of the brothers and my sister is the youngest. My deceased wife Rosie had a PhD in epilepsy and was the CEO of Goulburn Options. She won the international award for epilepsy, the only medico ever to do so.
What did you binge watch during lockdown?
Ozark. I have become a Jason Bateman fan. You just had to watch the next episode, but binge watching is not my thing. I did a lot of reading, probably six to eight hours a day researching.
Tell me three jobs you did in your lifetime and how you performed in those roles.
My first job was selling newspapers, at the age of four, at the Flagstaff Gardens, on the corner across the road from the market.
I was then a telegram delivery boy and sorted mail after school.
Then for 46 years I was a GP, the last 40 spent in Seymour.
Liberal candidate Steve Brooks
Who is your footy team, which sport did you play as a kid, were you any good?
Bombers. We were one of those families who played ALL the sports. Mum needed one of those people-movers with multiple back seats to ferry us and our teammates from whatever weekend/after-school sport that was on. I was a competitive kid who always tried and did okay at sport, no superstar though.
What was a typical Saturday, before the campaign trail called you to action; how did you spend the weekends?
Weekends were all about playing with the dog, seeing family, mowing lawns, and going out for dinner or down the river in summer. Depending on the time of year we also did some early morning farmers’ markets selling our pomegranates, too.
What is your perfect meal — entrée, main and dessert — and who are five people you would invite to dine with.
Arincini, parmigiana, tiramisu. Hughesy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Jerry Seinfeld, Mick Molloy and Shane Jacobson.
Where did you go to school, grow up and who were your biggest influences?
Goulburn Valley Grammar School, Shepparton. Biggest influences were my grandfather Ray, my mum and dad, and my close friends.
Tell me three countries you have visited and loved, when you went and why you loved them?
Singapore. I lived there for seven years for work. I loved the vibrancy, food, people and its proximity to so many other countries.
Brazil. I visited Brazil for work many times and always found the people to be so happy, friendly and very funny.
Canada. I also lived in Vancouver for four years for work and it is the only country which even comes close to being as naturally beautiful as Australia.
Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, partner, anyone of note in the family tree? How many of them still live in the area?
The Brooks family extend from Albury/Wodonga to Echuca/Moama on the Murray River. My grandfather Ray Brooks was a big character and had 10 kids, just to keep the ball rolling! My father, Chris, is a well-known water advocate for the region.
What did you binge watch during lockdown?
That strange series about the Tiger King.
Tell me three jobs you did in your lifetime and how you performed in those roles?
Grain trader: I was responsible for selling millions of tonnes of Aussie grain direct to buyers around the world. A lot of travel, logistics and managing the price risk.
Teacher: I was a year level leader for years 9 and 10 at Cobram Secondary, as well as teaching VCE business and health/PE. I have the greatest respect for all teachers because we can have such a positive impact on our young people.
Farmer: I’ve been involved in agriculture my entire life. From cutting, raking and baling lucerne hay as a kid, to running my own 6000-tree pomegranate orchard now.
Independent candidate Rob Priestly
Who is your footy team, which sport did you play as a kid, were you any good?
Melbourne footy club (Katandra was a Melbourne recruiting zone). Played footy, and tennis. Passable for tennis, outhouse at football.
What is a typical Saturday, how do you spend your weekend?
Summer: Sometimes on the Murray River with family, maybe visiting friends. Maybe a ride on the bike or a swim. Usually some admin or reading for work or community activities. Friends for dinner.
What is your perfect meal — entrée, main and dessert — and five people you would invite?
Lots of different dishes on the one table, lots of people, me cooking and a lot of laughing. Dessert — done by Sonia because I can’t cook a decent sweet. Five people — old friends.
Where did you go to school and grow up and who where you biggest influences?
Katandra West State School. Key influences, Mum for strategy and business, Dad for passion and risk taking, a few different teachers for social justice, my first boss in Sydney, he showed me a lot about what to do and what not to do, Michael Cohn for negotiation, my long-term supplier of textiles.
Three countries you have visited, when and why you loved them?
Iceland: Three or four years ago — motorbike tour with friends. Climate and geography are like another planet.
Germany: 10 years ago. The people, the business, the productive culture.
India: 27 years ago. The food and the people.
Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, partner and anyone of note on the family tree? How many in the area?
I am one of five, married to Sonia with three boys. I have seven aunts and uncles, 18 nieces and nephews. My grandmother was one of the first female pharmacists in Victoria.
What did you binge watch in lockdown?
Killing Eve, Ozark.
Three jobs I have had in my lifetime and how I performed?
Labourer: Just helping on home sites and renos on my weekends for extra cash when I lived in Sydney. I was okay at the grunt work, but I am no skilled tradie.
Grain trader: It was a good job and a good time of life. Lots of travel and a good look at human nature when it comes to money.
Business owner: Really lots of different jobs in one: marketing, HR, logistics and the list goes on. It doesn’t matter what a company does, running one is much the same: strategy, good people, good culture and managing cashflow.
Sam Birrell, Nationals candidate
Who is your footy team, which sport did you play as a kid, were you any good?
Essendon, I don’t remember why. But it was before the 1983 grand final, so it wasn’t a bandwagon thing. Football for St Brendan’s primary and Shepparton, then Assumption. But nowhere near as good as my schoolmate Shane Crawford, who was from Finley. I was okay at tennis.
What is a typical Saturday, how do you spend your weekend?
Parkrun at Shepparton, religiously. I have been doing that five years. I try to improve myself every year. The PB for the park run is 24 minutes 20 seconds (5km course). Then I am a gardener listening to podcasts
What is your perfect meal — entrée, main and dessert — and five people you would invite?
For entrée it would probably be a simple crusty bread, then a well-produced pasta with fresh seafood, and I am not a desert man, it would probably be a glass of wine instead. David Gilmour, lead guitarist of Pink Floyd (my favourite), Barack Obama (one of my podcast favourites) because it would be great to listen to him speak in person, my wife, Lisa, Ash Barty (recently retired) and political strategist Robert Gibbs.
Where did you go to school and grow up and who where you biggest influences?
Toolamba Primary, St Brendan’s Primary, Shepparton High School and then Assumption College, where I did 1989-92 as a border. I was influenced by a number of my father’s friends, including then Chief Superintendent Bryan Harding — who was at the time the secretary of the police association and a great intellect.
My mother and father, who had a diverse range of views on the way the world should work. They are both surprised that I ended up as a Nationals candidate, but I’m very comfortable with my decision.
Three countries you have visited, when and why you loved them?
India, when I was 21, I spent a couple of months travelling and visiting friends. It completely opened my eyes to the contrast between Australia and the developing world.
Chile, where I spoke at an horticultural conference on water requirements of apple crops. It was amazing to have 350 Chilean apple growers listening to a Spanish translation of my presentation.
I lived in the United States, San Francisco, when I was four years old and attended kindergarten there. I was there for six months with my parents.
Brothers, sisters, uncles, aunties, partner or anyone of note on the family tree? How many in the area?
Three younger sisters, one still in the area, one in Melbourne and one in Scotland. Three uncles and aunties, my wife, Lisa, and I were married in 2006 and we have two children — a 14-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son.
What did you binge watch in lockdown?
West Wing was my go-to. I decided to watch it for a second time.
Three jobs I have had in my lifetime and how I performed?
Agronomist, which is the area I studied (agricultural science) and worked in for 15 years. I was based in Shepparton, but travelled around the Australia and the world in horticulture and irrigation.
CEO for the Committee of Greater Shepparton, where I spent six years.
Political candidate. I would rate my performance as so far, so good.