Putting their shirt on it

By Melissa Grant
CARDINIA Shire Council candidates have been wearing their hearts on their sleeves – and chest – in the lead up to the election.
Mama Rosa proprietor Rosa Santo recently designed and ordered about a dozen T-shirts for candidates endorsed by the Cardinia Ratepayers and Residents Association (CRRA). They feature some of the candidates’ faces on the front and the message “Actions not just words” on the back.
CRRA president Gloria O’Connor, who is running for Bunyip Ward, said the t-shirts provided a bit of fun in what had been an intense few weeks.
CRRA endorsed candidates running for Central Ward are Brett Owen, Collin Ross and Bill Ronald. They are up against Kate Lempriere, Jeff Lempriere, Kate Hands, George Blenkhorn, Tracy Montgomery and Robert Campbell.
There is little more than a week until the voting deadline and the Cardinia Shire electoral office had yesterday received only 7091 of 45,215 – just over 15 per cent – of the shire’s votes.
As of yesterday, the Cardinia Shire election office had only received completed ballots from 3520 out of 20,226 eligible Central Ward voters.
Cardinia Shire returning officer Ian Herron said the office was getting some ballots returned to sender because residents who once had PO boxes were no longer using them.
Mr Herron said it was important that residents kept their personal details up to date.
“Any time residents change any of their personal circumstances they must fill out an enrolment form from the post office,” he said.
Voters must ensure their completed ballot paper reaches the election office by 6pm on Friday 28 November, or their vote won’t count.
Voting is compulsory for all enrolled residents under 70. This includes property owners and tenants. Those who fail to vote may be fined.
Cardinia residents who have not received their ballot pack should contact the election office immediately on 5940 0018 for a replacement pack.