Liberal candidate Steve Brooks, Nationals’ Sim Birrell and Independent Rob Priestly were close in an early poll conducted for Nicholls, the three appearing to be ahead of United Australia’s candidate Dr Robert Peterson, One Nation’s Rikkie Tyrrell and Citizens Party candidate Jeff Davy.
Kyabram, on a local government front, has a renowned identity as somewhat of a “malcolm in the middle’’, with many residents identifying more with Greater Shepparton than they did with their own shire of Campaspe.
On a state political front, current Nationals leader and Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh, is a regular figure in the community.
When it comes to federal politics the town has been viewed as a strong Nationals support base, but the strong campaigning of Mr Priestly has had an impact on opinions.
As has the work of Independent State Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed, Independent Federal Member for Indi Helen Haines and, just across the Murray, the achievements of another Independent member (for NSW) Helen Dalton.
The Nationals — and by extension the Coalition — does have the advantage of having the long list of achievements of retiring Member for Nicholls Damian Drum to reference.
Mr Brooks told the Free Press that he considered Kyabram had punched above its weight for a long time and had been disproportionately impacted by the Murray Darling Basin Plan.
“It is an irrigation town, so when the water is threatened it reduces the production pool of Kyabram,” Mr Brooks said.
“I am from a similar town, that is driven by that irrigation.
“As a fourth-generation irrigator I understand.
“Families that are building futures in the town need support.
“One thing is for certain, Kyabram is a resilient town.”
Mr Birrell admitted to understanding Kyabram’s identity crisis, between its connection to Shepparton and local government affiliation to Echuca-based Campaspe shire.
“I see the town as a critical food-manufacturing hub and a real centre of the dairy industry,” Mr Birrell said.
“It is a vital service town for that dairy industry.
“From what I can tell when the dairy industry does well, Kyabram does well, so water has a huge part in the town’s prosperity.”
He said the NBN rollout was now happening at Kyabram, which would mean a huge number of Kyabram residents and businesses would be able to have fibre to the premises.
“I’ve visited some groups in Kyabram. I’ve spent quite a bit of time meeting with people and with Damian Drum, Peter Walsh, and previously Paul Weller (Rodney) the Nationals have a strong record in Kyabram,” Mr Birrell said.
Independent Rob Priestly described Kyabram as a connected and dynamic community with a “go-get ’em business culture”.
“It has a lot of untapped potential,” Mr Priestly said.
“I am finding an extra-strong desire for political change in Kyabram, with people wanting to take charge of their own destiny.”
Mr Priestly said he recently received a letter from an elderly dairy industry figure who shared with him that he would not be voting Nationals for the first time in his life — and instead would be voting for an independent member.