There was something different about Russell Matheson’s voice when we called the vanquished former member for Macarthur this week.
It’s barely six weeks since Matheson lost his seat to Dr Mike Freelander but it seems he’s moving on pretty quickly.
The stress, the tension and anxiety betrayed by his voice during the eight week campaign was completely gone.
After passing on the message we rang to give him, we asked Mr Matheson where he was.
“Up here in sunny Queensland for a holiday before I return to get stuck into my job hunt,’’ he told us.
A little ray of sunshine. That explains pretty much everything.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
From one former politician to an aspiring one, Campbelltown Council candidate Nea Makowski told us an incredible “it’s a small world’’ story when we interviewed her earlier this week.
Her mother couldn’t decide on a name for her when she was born and a nurse suggested the name Nea, which means young woman in Greek.
“I know a Nea and your baby looks like a Nea,’’ said the nurse and the rest as they say is history.
Fast forward a few decades to the July 2 election and we have Nea Makowski attending a Macarthur candidates forum where she asked a question of the Labor candidate, Dr Mike Freelander.
He didn’t answer the question but later on Ms Makowski introduced herself and started walking away when she heard Dr Freelander say, hang on, what did you say your name was?
When she told him, a flabbergasted Dr Freelander said: so you are the person named after my mother in law!
It seems the nurse who suggested the name Nea was a friend of Dr Freelander’s mother in law and thus the suggestion.
We like “it’s a small world’’ stories, but that one is a bit scary.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
Order some pizza and lock in Wednesday night, August 31 because that’s when Channel 9’s Footy Show will be showing a remarkable story of redemption involving a local footy club.
We are sworn to secrecy so there won’t be any spoilers around here, sorry.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
It looks like this year’s Fisher’s Ghost festival may be the last in its current format.
Former mayor Paul Lake gave a few hints last Tuesday night at the council meeting.
He said the idea was to have most of the festival activities, including the parade – which had been declining in popularity, held in the evening.
It will enable council to consider adding a light show to the festival, something like the Vivid Sydney.
◊ ◊ ◊ ◊
Wests Tigers forward Chris Lawrence should consider a career in politics or the diplomatic corps when he retires from footy.
During an interview before the Titans clash we asked him if he brushed the backs since joining the engine room in the forwards.
“They are hard working, the forwards, no doubt about that,’’ was all he would say.
