2017-02-23
Emma Davidson and Rosanne Bersten
There are some people who throw themselves heart and soul into a cause. Effy is one of them. Often to be found at the other end of a text chat window, she works full-time with the Victorian Greens, volunteers as a developer after work for the Australian Greens as a whole, and doesn't seem to sleep. We're not sure where we'd be without her.
Name: Effy Elizabeth Elden
Age: 22
Role with the Greens: Technology manager, Victorian Greens
1. What do you remember about your first election?
My first election? That would be the 2014 WA Senate by-election. I went to phonebank one day, got swept into an IT meeting, and ended up running the phones and laptops for the office!
A favourite memory was when I set up the new WiFi — naturally I made the password "scottshair".
2. Favourite endangered Australian?
Without a doubt the Leadbeater's Possum. Such a tiny cute little critter, a perfect example of everything we're fighting for. It won my heart the first few months I was in Victoria.
3. What's your precious place and why?
My grandparents have a hut down in the country in the south of WA, in a town called Balingup. Such a beautiful natural place, filled with childhood memories of campfire-cooked baked bean sandwiches, roaring bonfires lighting up the night sky, and sightings of creatures such as possums and wambengers (phascogales).
4. Favourite Greens policy?
I'm so proud of the work of all our party members and MPs, but I will admit I have a special admiration for Janet Rice's work on making hormone therapies easier to access for underage trans youth. I'm so happy to be part of a party that truly stands up for trans and nonbinary people.
5. Best part of your work with the Greens?
The structured chaos — I never know quite what I'll be doing one week to the next, so I never get bored. But I get to know that no matter what I'm doing, it's helping make our world a better place.
6. What keeps you going?
Caffeine. Lots of it.
...and sharing the occasional political meme with my coworker Ben.
7. Favourite political song?
That's a tough one. I guess “Imagine” by John Lennon probably counts as political song?
8. Who inspires you? Why?
Scott Ludlam, without a doubt. He puts in a phenomenal amount of passion and dedication into standing up for ordinary Australians, and it's incredible to me how much he does. He's managed to capture the heart and minds of our nation in a way few modern politicians have, and he's represented the rights of countless gamers and Internet denizens who've become severely disenfranchised with our political process.
Seeing him openly talk about his struggles with depression, take some time to himself, and then go right back to making viral speeches in parliament has been one of the most inspiring events of my political lifetime.
9. Comfort food?
I swear I'm not just saying this for the political meme value, but Halal Snack Packs. What a wonderful greasy lifesaver in times of stress.
10. What would you spend $20 billion on?
Supporting those in our society who need it the most.
11. Secret vice?
Retail therapy.
12. Best coffee/drink in town?
I'm not much of a coffee snob, but my guilty pleasure is the Iced Jaffa Chocolate at Chokolait.
13. Three apps you can't live without?
Twitter, B612 (amazing selfie app), Google Music
14. What did you want to be when you grew up?
Hmm, I always felt like I had a calling towards IT, but I guess the most interesting/distinct one would be a camera operator for a TV show .
15. Morning run or night time swim?
Definitely swim. I'm not a morning person, and I hate the hot sweatiness of a run.
16. What's your greatest hope for the future?
Young people becoming active in politics and reshaping the world as we know it.
17. Magic wand to solve one world problem — what would it be?
Wealth inequality. So many of our problems stem from it, and so many more would be far easier to deal with if income and wealth were even a little bit fairer.
18. What advice would you give a new volunteer?
Don't measure successes just by electoral victories — your time and dedication will make a difference in so many ways.
19. You can travel through time — where do you go?
Hmm, to observe an ancient culture. Maybe the Roman Empire?
20. If you weren't doing this for a living, what would you be doing?
Part of me would love to design video games, if it was viable for me. I've seen more and more cute, queer, indie games coming out over the past few years, and it would be amazing to be a part of that movement.