Then he’d get back into election mode and keep door knocking, often in extreme weather conditions.

It was all in a day’s work for the political hopeful and his opponents in the 2001 and 2004 polls won by John Cobb.

There were never any complaints overheard about heat, dogs, distances or verbal abuse.

Recent public revelations that Mr Knagge suffered from the hereditary heart condition cardiomyopathy from his early 30s makes his commitment to the democratic process all the more admirable.

His extensive community work indicates that for a long time this Dubbo identity wouldn’t let illness run his life.

But copping political brickbats must have been a walk in the path compared to battling heart disease.

Only two months ago Mr Knagge was at death’s door when 18 years of medication could no longer contain his condition.

Reduced to an invalid, the 51-year-old had been on a St Vincent’s Hospital heart transplant list for many months.

After two false starts, when donor organs were deemed unsuitable, he finally got the call that would give him a new lease on life.

Doctors have been amazed at his quick recovery from surgery.

He’s back to work, family life and his beloved Dubbo Demons AFL Club.

Joe, as most call him, looks and sounds like a winner.