My election

Rosanne Bersten

The electorate campaign manager

Name: Jo Maguire-Rosier

Role: Campaign manager for Higgins (unpaid to start with, then paid)

Age: 27

Campaign started: July 2015

Election highlight?

Getting the poll back saying we could win. I was on the phone with with Jason [Ball] and Cass [Stafford, the communications coordinator, pictured above] at 11 o'clock or midnight and going, "oh my god, this is actually a possibility and we're shaking things up. We're within the margin of error to win." The next day there was an article comparing the seat to Indi.

What did you learn?

There's all the intellectual learning, and that you always need more time…

I've learned that I'm not a bad boss — I got a compliment the other day that I'm the best boss someone has had — that I really pushed him but also supported him all the way. I think that's what campaigning's about, pushing yourself and finding out what you can do. I didn't think of myself as a boss before this.

We're also flipping gender and cultural norms which didn't occur to me for a couple of days after he said that. We are changing cultural perceptions and cultural constructs. I'm a 27-year old woman and the person saying that to me is a 40-year old man.

Funniest moment?

Definitely our Music Trivia Night — there were teams from all over, including a team from Richard's office. Watching Cate Faehrmann (Senator Di Natale's Chief of Staff) lip-syncing to Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" — it was hilarious.

Advice for someone considering the role?

Don't undervalue the importance of personal reflection on strategy. Program time into your week or people into your life so that you can take a moment to step back and reflect on strategy. You don't always have a supervisor that you can talk things through at this level. The demands and pressures are pretty consistent in a campaign. 

The high-profile candidate

Name: Alex Bhathal

Role: Candidate for Batman (part-time to start with, then full-time; unpaid)

Age: 51

Campaign started: July 2015

Election highlight?

Gosh, there are so many!

Going out to the Northwest Reservoir Pensioner's Association with Richard [Di Natale] and everyone standing up and dancing. Sky News was there, ABC news was there, about five camera crews, in this little hall.

Richard and I getting mobbed outside the Commonwealth Bank by excited pensioners — that was a great one.

Being interviewed by Michelle Grattan was another highlight — she was such a professional. Bob [Brown] coming to visit was another highlight. Being on stage at the equal love rally with Adam Bandt and Janet Rice and our other candidates.

I got an email from a Kulin Nations elder who said he would be voting for me and that he was endorsing my candidacy around his community. I was deeply honoured to receive that.

What did you learn?

I've learned some important things about the power of sharing my own personal story with people and that it really is worth sharing because it can inspire other people. I didn't really realise that before. I used to resist it — I thought you just had to talk about policy but now I know the importance of sharing your own journey.

Funniest moment?

I remember at one doorknocking debrief in Fairfield there was a first-time volunteer who was confused and asked why we were only knocking on Greens voters' doors — because he'd knocked on all the doors he was given and they just all turned out to be Greens.

The whole nation had a bit of a laugh when David Feeney's tenants hosted a Greens poster out the front of their house. And someone made their own poster — they hand-painted a campaign poster of me.

Advice for someone thinking about being a lead candidate?

Never underestimate the impact it will have on your life, both positive and challenging. Don't underestimate the time, the physical and emotional effort or the Immense privilege to run for a party whose principles you believe in.

The media advisor

Name: Julie Macken

Role: Media Advisor for Grayndler (part-time — officially; paid)

Age: 56

Campaign started: March 2016

Election highlight?

When we did the projection on a building on the night before polling day — the building was owned by the Liberal Democrats. And it was gorgeous and it said everything we wanted it to say. What was really beautiful was that people walking by were saying how fantastic it was and "we love the Greens". It was a really a beautiful projection. A whole lot of flowers and vines that grew and in the middle it had 'Refugees: try a little tenderness — the Greens'.

What did you learn?

I have learned that we need to speak plainly and directly to bring an end to inequality in Australia. Cliches don't work. People want a direct application of policies to improving their lives. What we need to be saying is "vote 1 greens and you can end inequality in Australia". When we do that, it all makes sense, all the policies follow on from that.

Also you can feel like the opposition are kicking your arse every day — we'll never have as much money or resources as they will — but we've got the people. And that can keep you going.

Funniest moment?

At the NSW launch, we're introducing Jim Casey who was the best candidate in the whole world, you know, he's a firefighter. "Here's a guy who will drag you from a burning building, give you CPR and then go back and rescue your dog!" And he comes on to huge applause.

And Jim clears his throat, looks out at the audience and says, “well, by that stage it's more body retrieval.” And I'm in the wings making the 'cut!' motion... no one wants to hear that! You've got to laugh.

Another was getting to work and seeing the front page of the Tele with Save our Albo on the front. That was really funny. Especially when we worked out our strategy for dealing with that which was to go write an opinion piece in the Guardian in response.

What's your advice for someone considering the role?

It's so much fun. Have a ball. Work hard. Get to know your candidate and find out what matters to your immediate community. Remember you are a tiny cog in a very big machine. We can only do so much as individuals but together — wow.

The state campaign manager

Name: Andrew Beaton

Role: State Campaign Manager, WA (part-time unpaid to start; full-time paid at the end)

Age: 33

Campaign started: Unofficially October 2015, officially earlier this year

Election highlight?

A few very cool things but probably the best one — we had a refugee event with Sarah [Hanson-Young]. Whenever there's an event like that, trolls come out, there's lots of blowback. While we were monitoring the event page on Facebook, quite a few of the trolls turned out to be from UPF and were threatening to egg the event, so we had to hire security. On the night, this guy and his partner rocked up — big white dude with shaved head, quite stand-offish. First thing he asked was, 'is there an emergency exit?' and immediately I think, 'this is the guy'. So I had security stand behind him but nothing happened.

After the event, we get this message on Facebook from "Cooper". Turns out it's the same guy. He'd attended because he saw the promo online, wasn't convinced about the policy, came along to hear us out, left the event totally convinced that the policy was the right way to go and was contacting us to ask how he could talk to his friends about it. To top that, he ended up handing out for us on election day.

It's the perfect trajectory — he saw stuff on social media, came and listened and now he wants to know how to convince his friends.

What did you learn?

I'm the biggest advocate for data-driven campaigning in the world but we sometimes forget that the right conversation with the right person at the right time can be amazing and come from left-field. We never know who our next supporter will be. We can do all the science and the voter archetypes you like but if you get the event right and the message right, you can convince people you wouldn't expect. 

Funniest moment?

The absurdity of the campaign in general — there was a guy who has a giant projector and we could project up against walls and landmarks. That kind of engagement was a lot of fun. We had wonderfully enthusiastic volunteers who got carried away and did lots of crazy stuff.

There was a bit of a crazy war over Eliza (a statue about 50 metres out in a river) and we dressed her in a Greens T-shirt and then the Liberals tried to undress her but we'd used cable ties, so they only got halfway there. And then they dressed her in Liberal stuff but we won that war. A couple of volunteers swam out there again on election day in manky river water in the middle of winter to festoon her with green again. And they took out two flags the second time.

What's your advice for someone considering the role?

It's been the most terrifying and wonderful experience of my professional life. I've learned more than I thought possible. I've met the widest array of people in this State that I never knew existed. If you have the chance to take a role like this, leap at it. 

The first-time candidate

Name: Kudra Falla-Ricketts

Role: Candidate for Page (part-time to start with, then full-time; unpaid)

Age: 19

Election highlight?

Hearing from the people who hadn't voted before or were thinking of not voting say they'd decided to vote Greens for the first time because I'd inspired them.

Funniest moment?

Well, I was voting for the first time and I voted for myself, that was pretty funny. Someone told me that me running as a candidate was child abuse!

We had a few different people who wore corflutes and so we ended up having corflute wars with the Nationals, where we had a message about something and they would have an answering message and then we'd respond to that.

When we were on pre-poll one day, we had a busker come by and play “Always look on the bright side of life” and all the people from all the parties got involved and were dancing and singing.

What did you learn?

So many things I learned. If you challenge yourself, you can do whatever you put your mind to. Because I decided to do it, I could.

Advice for a first-timer?

Get involved with your local branch. Take on small responsibilities. Just do it. A lot of people think it's not cool, for young people to be involved with politics, they're worried about people judging them. And it seems daunting but it shouldn't be; it's just volunteering for a cause you care about. Okay, volunteering hundreds and hundreds of hours for a cause you care about.

The comms coordinator

Name: Melanie Maher

Role: State Communications Coordinator, Tasmania (part-time to start, then full-time; paid)

Age: 29

Campaign started: April 2016

Election highlight?

One highlight?!

An election highlight that I didn't foresee and has stayed with me was the experience of being surrounded by people every day whose values are similar to my own, who were fighting day and night for change and who were making progress. This was the first time I worked on an election campaign, and that highlight has been the most powerful and moving for me from the whole experience.

Can I add a shout out to some people who made my time there? Sean: You are AMAZING to work with. I learned so much from you and thanks all the laughter. Karen: those sessions helped me in so many ways; thank you. RGL: treasurer /fundraiser /daily hugger, thank you extraordinary woman. I'm really inspired by how much you give.  Rach: thanks for dinner and wines and always helping! Emma: the media buy rocked, was so good to have that in place!

There are so many people to thank… the campaign team, volunteers I worked with, and of course the incredible senators who work ongoingly for us all.

What have you learned?

Comedic relief is a beautiful thing.

And… people interstate are willing to help where they can, so call on their experience when you really need it. In particular Lloyd in Victoria really helped out, beyond the call of duty.

Funniest moment?

My heart stopped when someone in the office picked up one of the first How to Vote Cards that had just been printed (from the very large and expensive order that couldn't be reprinted) and suggested there was a mistake on it. My mind filled with all the consequences… Lucky they were wrong! A great amount of relieved laughter followed.

What's your advice for someone considering the role?

Please jump in, you are needed! It's worth it. The role is to develop all the state-specific design work… coordinating photoshoots, writing copy, designing print artwork, comms strategy, coordinating printers… project managing the comms budget, time and outcomes of all the communications. There's so many responsibilities…

Friends who saw the amount of work involved or the challenges faced in the role, always ask: would I do it again? The answer's always yes. Absolutely. I loved it.

The social media crew

Name: Michael Trembath

Role: Official meme creator, Australian Young Greens (part-time, unpaid)

Age: 28

Campaign started: September 8, 2013?

Election highlight?

Reaching out to hundreds of thousands of people during the Enrol to Vote campaign on the Australian Young Greens page and helping contribute to the highest ever enrolment rate.

What did you learn?

That it's really satisfying to find an aspect of campaigning that you enjoy and/or are good at and focusing on that.

Funniest moment?

It's not exactly funny, but you've got to laugh when Bob Katter shares your NBN gif on his Twitter page as a pinned tweet and then acknowledges AYG's 'dank memes' when he gets called out.

What's your advice for someone considering getting involved?

Reach out to your local group and ask 'How can I help?'. If there is an interest group that doesn't currently exist in The Greens, be the one who starts it up!