A Special Birthday Wish For Labor Duo
The Age
Saturday October 16, 1999
Factory workers in Frankston were burning a candle for Steve Bracks yesterday, not just because of his 45th birthday.
``It was almost as good as Elvis," swooned a middle-aged woman as the Labor leader left the staff canteen after a short speech and a rousing hip-hip-hooray. Her colleague, holding a cardboard sign declaring ``Go Labor, Support Steve Bracks", agreed heartily.
While the Premier, Mr Jeff Kennett, was bunkered down in his Treasury Place office, Mr Bracks was charming blue-aproned women at an automotive plant in Carrum Downs.
``Yes, I'm a Libra. Very balanced," said the birthday boy, who was by now blushing slightly.
The scales could not be more finely balanced, with Labor having to win the marginal Liberal seat to keep its chance of forming government alive.
But Mr Bracks remained silent on his hopes of winning. ``You know what I'll be wishing," he told workers after blowing out a birthday cake at another Frankston automotive factory. ``But I'll keep it a secret otherwise it won't come true."
It was going to be close, he said, as he shared the candle honors with his deputy, Mr John Thwaites, who ``scarily" shares the same birthday, but is a year younger.
Mr Kennett's absence from the campaign circuit was another good sign for Labor.
Mr Bracks said it was because voters had rejected his personal attacks and arrogance in the final days of the campaign.
``I'm not surprised therefore that today he won't show his head in Frankston," he said.
Mr Kennett's last action during campaigning in the Pines on Thursday was to buy a Power Play lottery ticket.
``It might make the difference," he said at the time. But whether he can retain government remains line-ball.
The pressure of the extended election bout doesn't appear to have aged Mr Bracks, who said he was feeling closer to 40 than 45.
He was pleased that at least he had extended the tea breaks of the factory workers, much to the chagrin of one supervisor who was worried at holding up production.
``Oh, forget about the production," a worker retorted. ``This is our future."
© 1999 The Age
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