People power

Andrew Mathieson
AS BARACK Obama takes a seat for the first time in the Oval Office, the symbolism behind his first morning in power inspires an everyday Geelong man.
“Obama got there at 8.35am – whether he was five minutes late or 25 minutes early, I’m not sure,” notes Greg Wells in his upstairs Malop Street office.
“But before lunch he rang the Palestinians and the Israelis, so world peace was up there.
“He told his senior advisers they weren’t going to get any pay rises, so the economy was up there, too.
“And he said would close Guantanamo Bay, so he was taking care of human rights.
“I thought that was a reasonable deck of the cards he picked up.”
The earlier inauguration of the 44th US president echoed Abraham Lincoln’s famous words, “Government of the people, by the people and for the people”.
Lincoln’s words are not lost on Greg, a human resources manager, who expects them to resonate in Australia’s first citizens’ parliament.
He will represent the federal electorate of Corio as one of 150 people from across the nation at the citizens’ parliament over the next four days.
More than 8500 Australians, many of who were politically ambivalent, initially embraced smaller regional meetings to discuss potential topics for months through online chatrooms.
“The proposal we have put forward is empowering citizens into political participation,” Greg says.
Representatives will debate 11 issues, including a proposed bill of rights and even the removal of the state level of government.
“Cop that,” Greg remarks.
“I can’t see that getting through.”
Most representatives, like Greg, will purport no allegiance to Labor or the Liberals, and the 56-year-old wears his swinging voter tag proudly.
He says he’s never had political ambitions, is cynical pollies don’t indulge in conscience votes all the time and is an activist regarding human rights.
“My wife says I’ve swung more right-wing, which has caused an argument at home,” Greg remarks.
“But all the Bob Dylan songs still ring true to me, so I guess that bit is still left in me.”
Before slapping on a suit and tie, Greg was a Geelong West VFA footballer in his heyday and a standout club cricketer.
Sometimes in footy circles he is even confused with his more famous namesake of the same age who turned out for Melbourne and Carlton.
“He played 267 VFL games – I played just four,” Greg points out.
Many in Geelong might remember him as Malcolm Blight’s trusted right-hand man, running out messages for the Cats coach between 1989 and 1994.
The experience also had an impact on the former school teacher.
“He was definitely different, one from left field,” Greg grins.