Member for Riverina, Michael McCormack, visited the Harden Shire on Wednesday April 13th as part of an effort to familiarise himself with the additional shire areas he could be responsible for should he be re-elected in this year’s Federal Election. Mr McCormack met with Harden Shire Council Mayor, John Horton, before going on to meet Lorraine Brown of the Harden Murrumburrah Historical Society and the West End Gift Shop in Neill Street. He also met with the staff of the Twin Town Times, who were quite uncomfortable at being on the other side of the camera for once.
Whilst at the office, McCormack spoke about his previous experience as the Editor of The Daily Advertiser in Wagga, as well as coming to Harden in his younger days as a Journalist to cover Group 9 matches. He fondly recalled the likes of Robert Styles and Johnny Shea playing for the Harden Hawks. He also enquired as to which pub in Harden was owned by the Keoghs during the late 1970s and early 1980s. As a result of a redistribution of Federal electorate boundaries, Harden Shire Council has been absorbed into the Electorate of Riverina. Mr McCormack will be contesting for the seat in this year’s Federal Election, which could be called for as early as July. In February’s Federal Cabinet reshuffle, McCormack was named Assistant Minister for Defence in the Turnbull Government in addition to his duties as Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister.