Article-ON KNIFE’S EDGE: Butcher in a tangle with Webb for Nelson

Duncan Abey

Butcher and Liberal candidate for Nelson Marcus Vermey was looking forward to sitting down with his wife to “steak and a bottle of wine” last night, as a gruelling campaign for the Legislative Council seat came to a conclusion.

Mr Vermey, who cast his vote earlier in the week to allow more time for work and to move a final corflute or two, told the Mercury that he also took a moment to buy his wife flowers and a thank you card.

“They are for putting up with me for the six months, but it’s probably been longer than that, because the campaign never really stopped after the 2024 Tasmanian election,” Mr Vermey said.

Incumbent member Meg Webb braved the morning rain to vote at Mt Nelson Primary School and sample the wares of the community’s renowned cake stall.

ONLY THING LEFT TO DO IS AWAIT RESULT

Duncan Abey

Butcher and Liberal candidate for Nelson Marcus Vermey was looking forward to sitting down with his wife to a “steak and a bottle of wine” on Saturday night, as a gruelling campaign for the Legislative Council seat came to an end.

Mr Vermey, who cast his vote earlier in the week to allow more time for work and to move a final corflute or two, told the Mercury that he also took a moment to buy his wife flowers and a thank you card.

“They are for putting up with me for the six months, but it’s probably been longer than that, because the campaign never really stopped after the 2024 Tasmanian election,” Mr Vermey told the Mercury.

“I don’t know if a card and flowers will appease anything, but it might be the start of getting there.

“As I left work, I picked out a couple of nice steaks, and we will have a quiet night at home keeping an eye on the count.”

Incumbent member Meg Webb braved the morning rain to vote at Mt Nelson Primary School, and sample the wares of the community’s renowned cake stall.

Ms Webb said she felt satisfied after a “positive campaign”, and expressed her gratitude to the supporters and volunteers who had backed her first attempt to retain the seat.

“I know that we couldn’t have done too much more, so now you just have to see how things go,” Ms Webb said, ahead of a supporters evening at the Taroona Bowls Club.

“It was an entirely different campaign this time around, because I was running on my record this year.

“But it was something I was very happy to do, because I am really proud of my record as the independent member for Nelson.

Greens candidate Nathan Volf said while the rain meant he would not be able to help his elderly neighbour with her gardening, it had allowed him time to reflect on the support of lower house members, Helen Burnet and Vica Bayley, with whom he would spend the evening watching the count unfold.

Across the Derwent on Hobart’s Eastern Shore, incumbent member for Pembroke Luke Edmunds was joined by his family at the polling booth at Bellerive Primary School.

The Labor candidate said he was facing a slightly nervous wait for constituents to deliver a “public performance review” of his last six years in office.

“It actually felt good to vote, and putting that number one in the box is like an exclamation mark on the whole campaign,” Mr Edmunds said.

“We certainly don’t really feel like we could have anything more, so now it’s up to the voters.

“It’s going to be a longish afternoon, but we should be getting a pretty strong indication of the outcome by about 7.30pm.”

Independent Pembroke challenger Allison Ritchie said she would continue her polling day tradition of spending time with her family, which usually involves a walk or lunch.

 Ms Ritchie told the Mercury she felt like a stranger in her own house after a marathon doorknocking campaign across the electorate over past months, and said she was looking forward to spending the Saturday night at home with loved ones and supporters.

“We will just be waiting for the numbers to come through and just see how it goes,” Ms Ritchie said.

“But for me, regardless of the result, it’s been a pleasure and a real privilege to be able to be on people’s doorsteps, talking to people, community groups.

“It’s a real touchstone as always, and it holds you in good stead for everything you do in the future, regardless of your election outcome.”

Mr Edmunds and Ms Ritchie were joined in the race for Pembroke by Greens candidate Carly Allen; Shooters, Fishers, Farmers TAS hopeful Steve Loring; and independent Tony Mulder.

In the North-West electorate of Montgomery, ex-Senate president and former police officer Stephen Parry was seeking to hold the seat for the Liberal Party after the retirement of sitting member Leonie Hiscutt.

Mr Parry voted at East Ulverstone Primary School in the morning, before preparing to watch the count with friends, family and colleagues at the Ulverstone Surf Club.

Mr Parry was facing competition from Ms Hiscutt’s independent-aligned son and current Central Coast councillor, Casey; Greens candidate Darren Briggs; Shooters, Fishers, Farmers TAS hopeful Adrian Pickin; and student Gatty Burnett.