Birdsville told of Aust, poll
NZPA Brisbane Birdsville was officially reminded yesterday that an Australian federal election would be held on March 5. The tiny town — which is 1400 km west of Brisbane and boasts a population of about 40 — was notified by the Maranoa electoral officer, Bill Woolcock “in case they hadn’t heard.” “In the 1980 elections the local policewoman and teacher didn’t know an election was being held,” he said. Birdsville is one of the many isolated towns and
communities throughout Queensland. The only contact it has with the outside world is radio-telephone, a shortwave radio service, and the occasional newspaper which is usually a week old. Postal-voting forms had been sent to electors by a variety of ways including the Flying Doctor and mail contract services, Mr Woolcock said. “W’e then charter a plane to pick up the returns.” The Maranoa constituency, with 67,000 electors, covers 517,000 sq. km, more than the area of Spain.
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Press, 10 February 1983, Page 6
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158Birdsville told of Aust, poll Press, 10 February 1983, Page 6
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