2016-03-30
Emma Davidson
Name: Dr Amanda Cohn
Age: 26
Role with the Greens: Candidate for Farrer.
1. What do you remember about your first election?
Turning up in rainbow-coloured pants so that the Liberal party volunteers wouldn't waste my time with HTVs.
2. Leadbeater's possum or eastern longneck turtles?
As an established cat lady, I have to pick the small furry option.
3. What's your precious place and why?
Alpine National Park - mountains have always made me feel at peace.
(Ed: I asked Dr Cohn how long she's lived in the Farrer electorate and what she likes about the area)
I've only lived in Albury-Wodonga for a few years - I'm not a true local, but I have chosen to make it my home. It's a cliché but true that regional towns have a real sense of community. We are a vibrant and growing regional centre. I've become heavily involved in the local community through my work at the hospital and volunteering with the SES. The lifestyle is just an added bonus - I never have to deal with traffic or parking, and I have gorgeous landscape on my doorstep - from the Alpine national park to the Victorian vineyards and NSW sheep farming country. I reckon the coffee here can stand up against Melbourne coffee to boot - and if you don't believe me you'll have to come and visit!
4. Favourite Greens policy?
Ending undemocratic donations to political parties.
5. Best part of your work with the Greens?
Meeting passionate people from all over the country who care about the same things I do, and are willing to put in the time to make a difference.
6. What keeps you going?
Caffeine. More caffeine.
7. Favourite political song?
Midnight Oil - Beds are Burning. Aussie classic!
8. Who inspires you? Why?
Professor Simon Chapman for his decades of tireless advocacy against the tobacco industry and for blurring the lines between medicine, sociology and politics.
9. Comfort food?
CHOCOLATE.
10. What would you spend $20 billion on?
Supporting rural and regional mental health initiatives.
11. Secret vice?
CHOCOLATE.
12. Best coffee/drink in town?
Chocolate milk from the Kiewa valley!
13. Three apps you can't live without?
Gmail, Fruit Ninja and the one that calculates medication doses for me at the end of 15-hour shifts at the hospital.
14. What did you want to be when you grew up?
Olympic figure skater. Look, people change, okay?
15. Morning run or night time swim?
Morning run - being up before everyone else feels like this fabulous secret between you and the sunrise.
16. What's your greatest hope for the future?
A global compassionate solution to the migration crisis.
17. Magic wand to solve one world problem — what would it be?
Perfect clean energy source.
18. What advice would you give a new volunteer?
Remember why you started and make friends along the way.
19. You can travel through time – where do you go?
To the future to watch the first sitting of a Greens government!
20. If you weren't doing this for a living, what would you be doing?
I wish I were doing this for a living!