For Jonathon Flegg, one of the NSW Liberal's youngest candidates, early mornings and late nights campaigning are part-and-parcel of trying to win a marginal seat in this month's elections.
With a multifaceted campaign that includes an emphasis on directly interacting with the local community, the 24-year-old Mr Flegg has been a highly visible Liberal candidate for the Sydney seaside suburb of Coogee.
"You have to just get out there and be fully committed to what you are doing, and if you want to be a local member, you do have to have a level of commitment to 40,000 people," he told The Epoch Times.
Over the past few months he has surprised a lot of the Coogee locals by door knocking his way around the suburb. "They haven't been door knocked for so long," said Mr Flegg. "It's a very positive experience.
"A lot of politicians don't bother with it any more – and I always say to people it is the old fashioned way – just go around door knocking – and speaking to people face-to-face."
While it may be Mr Flegg's first time running for parliament, he is no stranger to the machinations of the democratic process. With his father Dr Bruce Flegg, being the current leader of the Queensland Liberals, politics has long been a part of his life. Recent years being a media advisor for Reverend Gordon Moyes AC MLC in the NSW Parliament has also offered further insights.
In the lead up to the March 24 elections Mr Flegg has been busy attending forums and rallies, candidate meetings, launching campaigns such as "war on parking meters" and "better buses for Coogee" while introducing himself and getting to know the community, local business and media.
"I've met a lot of amazing people, and they have shared a lot their amazing things [with me] as well," he said.
While the Liberals haven't held Coogee since 1974, they consider the seat winnable.
"It's a marginal seat…it has always been close – it has always been single digit margins," said Mr Flegg.
"The reason I decided to run for Coogee was that I thought there were so many good ideas policy wise and so many good initiatives that should be pursued but simply weren't," he says.
"I still have a lot to do over the next three weeks – we are going to work right up until the final gong."
In 2004 Mr Flegg moved into Coogee, he is a patrolling member of the local surf life saving club and is a founding member and treasurer of the Coogee Lions club.
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