"Who couch surfs at 61 years old?": An Allansford-born cafe worker on the housing crisis and feeling forgotten by politicians

As the race for Wannon intensifies in what could be one of the most closely contested elections in the seat's 70-year Liberal stronghold history, we're traveling to the pubs and gathering places that form the beating heart of local communities, speaking with locals about their political choices, the values guiding their decisions, and how their perspectives have evolved over time.

Today, we're settled at a quiet table in a bustling Warrnambool pub, sharing a drink with a 61-year-old local who requested anonymity due to concerns about her current housing situation.

Born in nearby Allansford, she tells the Brolga she has lived in Warrnambool “all my life”, witnessing the region's changing landscape while navigating the growing housing crisis that now threatens her own stability after 22 years in the same rental.

West Vic Brolga: What was it like growing up around here? 

It was good. The summers are good, but the winters are a bit cold. We've had a good summer this year. The tourists should be happy with that. There's been quite warm days.

Then there's a little town called Port Fairy. That's a good little town too, 20 minutes and you're there. It's a good place to travel to and see things. Over the summer, it's good for the entertainment side. Nice local bands and stuff like that. Good little pubs. We used to go over to Port Fairy every Friday night and go to the Star of the West or the Caledonian Hotel. It was always good going out there and always loud and noisy. I think I've just gotten older now and I just like more of the quieter life.

Has Allansford changed much at all since you were a kid?

Allansford's got better as far as there's newer houses that have gone up. There's a little pub in Allansford called the Junction Hotel. That's a good little pub to go to. Nice and cheap and big meals. The meals are really filling, really good. And the boss — Diane McLean — she's one of the owners and sort of runs it. She's really good. And Flying Horse. That's another good place to go.

As we get closer to the federal election, what do you think politicians are getting wrong?

Maybe the housing. We need more housing. They need to do something about that because there's so many homeless people. I really don't know to be honest. Sometimes I think they're better off to put a little country fella in that role [as prime minister], a farmer that would probably have an idea of what's going on.

Is there a homeless issue here in Warrnambool?

Yes, there is. I think a lot of places have people living in their cars. I'm in the process at the moment of looking for another place. My landlord's selling my place. I've been there 22 years. He's been very good to me so I can't complain. But I'm 61 now. I've got two kids. One's in London. And the boy's here. Him and his girlfriend are very good. Of course, they're not going to let me be homeless. But I've already been to one place to have a look at, and there might have been a dozen people there.

I've got to go and look at another place tomorrow. There'll be a few people in for that. You've just got to be lucky, I guess. And also work. I don't know if you've got much hope if you haven't got a job.

It seems like you're pretty screwed otherwise, given the competition.

That's right. I don't know whether they would put someone younger in these places. I'm not sure. I think what I've got going for me is that I've got a job and I've been there a long time. And the landlord gave me a fantastic reference for 22 years.

Was homelessness an issue when you were younger?

I don't think it was as bad. It was probably there, but it wasn't as bad as it is now. I used to run quite a bit back when I was younger, and you'd be running down the back of Lake Pertobe and there'd be a few homeless people living in the bushes. But the homeless thing is a bit bad all around. I don't even know how they could crack that. That'd be one of the main issues.

Have your voting patterns changed over time?

Ah, no. My dad was always Labor. Always Labor, so we just went with Labor. But I really don't know much about the whole thing. I just went with Labor because of my dad. People that we sort of knew back in our younger days, they all voted Labor. In Allansford, everyone sort of voted Labor. I think it all stems back from Gough Whitlam. And that was just what I did.

I guess you’ll continue to do so?

Well, if they do something, if they've got a bit of a say about the homelessness. If they want to work on that, then, yeah, I will. Because you do see how it's an issue. 

When I went to put my name down for the commission home, they didn't call me, but I was talking to one of the fellas there. And he said, you'd probably have to couch surf. Now who couch surfs at 61 years old? There's no way. My son would look after me anyway.

It shouldn't have to come to that. They need to get on top of that more. It's just sad to see people — it doesn't matter how old they are — that are homeless.

Do you feel like whatever happens with the federal election will make much of a difference here, on a local level?

Oh, no, because we're just a small fish in a big pond. I think they will worry more about Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. They'll concentrate more on them and Perth. We're just little old Warrnambool that, in their eyes, probably doesn't know much about anything. I just feel they like to concentrate more on the big cities, personally. And if you're from a small town, you're just sort of small potatoes compared to someone in a big city.

When it comes to election day, how do you feel? Do you feel like it's just a chore? Like you have to just get over it because nothing's going to change? 

Yeah, sometimes you do feel like that. Let's just, you know, hurry up and do it so we don't get a fine. I'm sure there's a lot of people that sort of feel like that. 

But you don't realise that, even though we're in a small town, we can do something. You know, who knows, your little vote might eventually make a little bit of a difference. That's how I sort of feel.

_{This interview is part of a series speaking with locals from Victoria's Western District about where they live, what they care about, and what they think of the upcoming federal election.}