💐Happy Mother’s Day! 💕
Today, we celebrate the incredible mums who give so much of themselves; at home, at work, and in their communities.
I am incredibly fortunate to still have my mum in my life, who I genuinely believe will outlast us all through sheer grit 😂 and my beautiful wife Ilona, mother to our two boys and the woman who gave me a family. You are our rock, our warmth and our fun. Thank you for everything you do for us.
A special thought and thanks to all our heavenly mums today. Today can be tough for many, but they are never forgotten. 💕
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Today is National Domestic Violence Remembrance Day, a day to remember and honour those who have lost their lives due to violence.
I was grateful for the opportunity to attend Liberty Domestic & Family Violence Specialist Services' extremely moving event this morning in Port Macquarie to recognise the 73 women's lives that have been lost to domestic violence in Australia over the past 12 months.
73 roses were handed out to those in attendance, each with a name, date and story of a woman who had been killed. Each name was read out and the roses placed at Town Beach in recognition of their loss, and providing each with a mark of dignity and respect.
I'd like to thank Kelly Lamb and the entire Liberty team for the invitation and for the work that you do every day to protect those at risk. Domestic and Gender Based Violence is a scourge on our society that must be combatted at multiple levels, but most importantly, by each of us as individuals. The behaviour you walk past is the behaviour you accept, and we cannot continue to see women killed in these circumstances each year.
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BACK TO WORK
Great to return to the office this morning to catch up on the messages and requests from the past few weeks.
While the election has been playing out and we have been in caretaker mode, the constituent needs for help to navigate our current government systems has not changed!
It's good to be 'back on the tools' and back to the job at hand.
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With the polls results now locked and the last of the postal vote counts trickling in, it’s time to declare Cowper as ‘Nat Retained’ and accept the role of your local MP in the 48th Parliament of Australia. Representing Cowper in the halls of Parliament has been an honour and a privilege for the past 6 years, and I am extremely humbled to have been given the opportunity to continue to fight for what we need and deserve on the Mid North Coast, while representing our regional ideals and values.
I would like to acknowledge and thank every candidate that ran for our beautiful electorate, with a record 11 vying for the spot this year. Democracy is alive and well in Australia and particularly in our electorate with so many willing to put up their hand and say “I would like to represent our communities and work to improve our region.”
To my family, my staff, my friends and every one of our members and volunteers, I would like to say ‘thank you for sticking by me’. Your support and guidance is invaluable.
As I look back at this photo that was taken just before I was officially sworn in for the first time, I think of how far our region has come since then and how much I have learned, not just as your MP but as a father and husband. I vow to keep shining a spotlight on the real needs of regional families and communities and continue to keep pushing for the changes we need for our electorate to thrive.
Now, let’s get to work!
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THANK YOU, COWPER!
Well, the last vote has been cast and the electorate has decided. While we await the results, I’d like to thank the people of the Mid North Coast. I have never taken this role for granted and to represent our communities has been the greatest privilege of my life.
Being surrounded by a sea of green and gold clad volunteers today has been an emotional experience. Thank you to everyone who has donned a shirt, hosted a yard sign, donated to the campaign, handed out at polling booths and offered kind words and advice. The impact of your support is beyond words. Thank you.
Let the count begin!
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THE DAY IS FINALLY HERE! TIME FOR COWPER TO DECIDE
The rain won’t dampen our spirits today! Here at PCYC in Port Macquarie with my beautiful wife Ilona and Mayor Adam Roberts to kick off the Election Day final sprint.
Let’s do this, Cowper!
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