Delight: New state Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe flanked by daughter Emma and husband Brendan at her campaign event on Saturday night. Photo: Max Stainkamph
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Max Stainkamph
When ABC election analyst Antony Green appeared on the television screen in front of the tally for Shepparton at the Nationals event at BelCibo & Co on Saturday night, everyone dropped everything to rush to the TV.
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When he confirmed Kim O’Keeffe would be the next Member for Shepparton, the room erupted.
She had done it.
By Sunday morning, Ms O’Keeffe had secured nearly a third of first preference votes with nearly 80 per cent of votes counted, comfortably ahead of outgoing Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed.
Thumbs up: Nationals candidate and incoming Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe with her supporters and daughter Emma and husband Brendan on Saturday.
Photo by
Max Stainkamph
Ms Sheed had just under 30 per cent of the votes, with Liberal candidate Cheryl Hammer recording another 20 per cent of the votes — with most of those votes preferencing Ms O’Keeffe.
The outgoing member conceded defeat just after 8pm on Saturday night, calling Ms O’Keeffe a short time after.
It took about an hour for the news to sink in, but when it finally did she appeared on the ABC’s state-wide coverage before addressing party faithful.
“It’s a great night for us in Shepparton,” Ms Sheed told the ABC on Saturday night.
“It’s been a different campaign, we’ve had the floods recently, for me it’s been about the people and making sure people are cared for.”
Ms O’Keeffe acknowledged Ms Sheed as member for the past eight years, and said she would continue to keep her connections to the community strong.
Erupting: The party faithful celebrating with new Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe on Saturday night. Photo: Max Stainkamph
Photo by
Max Stainkamph
“So I feel really proud to have the support but really looking forward to what's next for all of us,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“Rural and regional Victoria does miss out a lot of the time and we need a strong member and we need someone who’s going to stick up for what we deserve and the investment we need and I’m that person.”
She did not comment on if the Nationals should sit apart from the Liberals in the next parliament, as Nationals deputy Danny O’Brien suggested on Sunday.
Great night: Kim O’Keeffe with husband Brendan moments after the seat was called for her by ABC election analyst Antony Green. Photo: Max Stainkamph
Photo by
Max Stainkamph
Addressing the party faithful, Ms O’Keeffe thanked her team for the support right from the get-go.
“From the minute I joined the team I felt the support of everyone, I felt like I was in the right place,” she told supporters at her campaign event on Saturday night,“ she said.
“I’m really excited, I’m absolutely thrilled — I’m not going to say shocked because I think we had a really good chance.
“I’m so proud of my campaign, it was a positive, bright, caring campaign and I want to make sure I acknowledge that.”
