Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Insights from the campaign trail

The election is almost here. Hooray.

It’s time we got down with Elvis Presley’s suggestion of ‘A little less conversation, a little more action, please.’

I’m a big fan of action.

I’ve been at this for 14 months, and as a writer who holds the ear of the community each week I’ve been cognizant not to turn this into a hostage situation. For twenty years I’ve talked about politics and social issues and shared insights into my personal experiences, but this is one journey where I’ve had to keep you locked out. 

I’ve been mindful of what I should write about. Trying only to touch on general issues that I would always write a response to, and to not use the privilege of a column as a chance to push policy. So I thought, instead, in this last week that I might share a few insights on the journey thus far.

It’s been another wonderful opportunity to find the right line and practise ethics. 

Which, by the way, is Insight Number One: Being ethical in politics makes you a target for people who don’t seem to have any. It’s a relentless attempt at a ‘Gotcha!’.

So you’re a Greenie – what kind of car do you drive? What are you eating? What is that made from? What kind of undies are you wearing? Are they free trade? Locally sourced? Do they have a picture of Adam Bandt on the front? 

Insight Number Two: Most people don’t understand preferencing. This is self-explanatory. A lot of people are cranky about the mandates and want to send a message to the government; ironically, as it happens, by giving their votes to parties who channel their preferences to the same government who brought in the mandates! Go figure.

Insight Number Three: Don’t even consider politics unless you have some serious stamina. This is not a choice for someone who likes to sleep in or needs an arvo nap. I’ve been getting up at 4.30am most mornings and putting in 16-hour days for months. Instead of beating myself up for not going to the gym, I like to think of my membership as a business support – kind of like sponsoring a kid through World Vision, except I’m sponsoring a missing woman at a pump class. As a candidate, when you go through probity to check you don’t have a criminal record they should do an energy probity as well. If you don’t have capacity to work for long stretches without any downtime then I don’t think this is your gig. Fortunately, as an artist in a regional area, I’ve had to create my own work which has a similar energy footprint. And I’ve raised five kids. I know what it’s like to put in long hours when everyone is asleep and to be constantly unappreciated.

Insight Number Four: Some people will be very nasty. You expect that. What gets a bit creepy is when they obsess, when it’s ‘nasty love’ and they can’t get enough of you. Social media is a wonderful platform for angry people full of hate who want to say mean stuff. I’m glad I am able to help them.

Insight Number Five: There are lots more people who are wonderful and amazing. People who stop me in the street and hug me and say ‘Thank you!’ and tell me they believe in me. It’s really beautiful and it keeps me going. Don’t stop.

Insight Number Six: Even though there are so many more people who appreciate me, some days you can’t help but focus on the haters. It’s like being covered in ants. I remind myself to shower myself in the love and positivity of my community. It washes the ants down the drain. If you’re trolling me on this, please note – this is personal. I am talking to you. And you’ve just gone down my plughole. Sorry. I still feel for you. I’m relentlessly empathetic. It’s why I don’t block you.

Insight Number Seven: You can’t know everything in the world. Stepping into politics has been like trying to get your head around EVERYTHING. All that has happened, all that just happened, and how you want to change it. It’s exciting, and immense, and overwhelming. This is when I defer to experts. Thank god for science (that’s an ironic statement btw).

Insight Number Eight: Family and friends are everything. When you expand to reach out to your community – they expand to support you. The thrill of speaking truth to power with the wind of your people at your back. It’s quite an incredible feeling.

Insight Number Nine: You need more undies. It’s the best advice for anyone entering politics. The washing machine and I were once in intimate embrace. Now we are estranged. So you go get a back-up supply, that way you always have your big girl undies on! 

Insight Number Ten: Change is possible. But you have to make it happen.

Make the change.