New Nationals State candidate getting the lay of the land

The Nationals’ new candidate for the State
seat of Barwon, Annette Turner from White
Cliffs, is a well-known face to many residents
in the Western area.
Mrs Turner, the former State President of the
Country Women’s Association of NSW, was
only recently asked to consider standing as the
Nationals’ candidate.
However before she could commit, Mrs
Turner said she needed to make sure she had
the full support of her family, as they have a
working property in White Cliffs.
“Because I need support, it’s a big electorate,
some 360,000 kms,” she said.
Her husband Barry is travelling with her on
the campaign trail while her adult son and
daughter are looking after the family property
during their regular absences.
The campaign trail brought Mrs Turner to
Cobar on Tuesday where she attended the official
re-opening of the Cobar Youth and Community
Centre with Nationals MLC Sam Farraway,
who has endorsed Mrs Turner for the
State candidacy.
Mr Farraway said it was time for a new MP
for Barwon.
“It’s time to have a local from the west of the
state, or the west of this electorate, to rally and
represent Cobar and all of Barwon and I think
Annette will be fantastic,” he said.
“Coming from the far west, her time as a
state CWA president, managing complex issues
and people and their feelings and emotions
and their problems, I think she’s very
well placed and suited.
“I think as a local MP who has to represent
the interests of not only Cobar, as well as Broken
Hill, as well as Lake Cargelligo, as well as
Wee Waa and Narrabri, you need to have had
that experience handling complex issues with
different people’s thoughts and views on issues
and I think Annette is well placed to do that
with her experience.
“I’m backing Annette 100 percent as the first
female National Party candidate for Barwon,”
Mr Farraway said.
Mrs Turner said she was passionate about the
whole of Barwon.
“Because it’s my area and I have lived experiences,”
she told The Cobar Weekly.
“As president of CWA, I was able to work
across the state so I do understand issues right
across the state.”
Mrs Turner said it was fantastic to see projects
that the Nationals had invested in, such as
the youth centre upgrade, coming to fruition.
“The investment that the Nationals are putting
into regional NSW, particularly for kids, is
really important to me.
“I’m interested in continued infrastructure
investment but I want to see better connectivity
and better investment in rural health as well.
“They’re issues that are close to my heart
coming from the bush.
“I’ve lived this life and I’m so really excited
to be putting myself forward to represent the
people.
“I’m just passionate about it, I just want to be
able to help make a difference, and with the
Nationals, we can do that,” she said.