As part of the Ararat Advertiser’s 160th anniversary, we are continuing our series of features on the history of Ararat and this newspaper.
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THOUGH Ararat has been in different state government districts, it has a rich history of its elected representatives being at the centre of power.
Sir Henry Bolte was elected to represent Ararat and went on to became the premier.
Sir Bolte was, until the rise of South West Coast’s Denis Napthine, the last premier from a regional area for decades.
Current Member for Ripon Louise Staley remembers Sir Bolte’s dedication to an uninterrupted day at the races.
“He loved going to the races in Ararat. Horse races were his favorite weekend pastime,” she said.
“He particularly like standing at the rail with a Craven "A" cigarette in one hand and a form guide in the other.
“You could come and talk to him about the races but you couldn’t talk to him about politics.”
Prior to Ms Staley’s election in 2014, Ararat was represented for 15 years by Labor’s Joe Helper.
Since being elected to state Parliament in 1999, Mr Helper had been re-elected three times until his retirement, which was announced in 2012.
“I think there are a number of politicians who hang around past their use-by date and I didn’t want to fall victim to that,” Mr Helper said in 2014.
“I am grateful to the people of Ripon who allowed me to choose my time of departure and didn’t choose to boot me out.”
“I have experienced many elections as a campaign activist, many as a candidate and as a local member.”
Mr Helper held two portfolios during his time in Parliament, being the Minister for Agriculture and for Small Business.
Ms Staley said it was a bit of a challenge taking up the electorate office after the retirement of such a well-known member.
“It’s has been an enormous privilege to be a member of parliament, particularly as it had been something I had wanted to do for a long time.” she said.
“People were used to this seat being Labor, and that was true of both those who voted Liberal and Labor.
“It has been for some people a great return to the kind of representation they grew up with, for those active in the Labor party, it was probably less than optimal.”
Ms Staley said he hoped her own legacy would be to encourage more women to run for parliament.
“I’m of course different than every other representative for Ararat in that I’m a woman,” she said.
“I’m very pleased to be able to break that ground and hopefully demonstrate to the girls and women of Ripon that this is something that they can aspire to.”