With current Member for Calare John Cobb retired as of today, there are five candidates vying for the seat.

The candidates (in alphabetical order) are Rod Bloomfield – Nick Xenophon Team; Anthony Craig – Independent; Andrew Gee – The Nationals and current Member for Orange; Jess Jennings – Australian Labor Party; and Delanie Sky – The Greens.

Mr Cobb said today is tinged with sadness as he no longer represents the electorate.

He gave his valedictory speech in parliament two weeks ago, saying he preferred to keep it low key.

“It is a sad day today because I have met some wonderful people in my time as Member for Calare,” he said.

“The issues and battles you remember are the ones which affected individual families who needed help with problems.”

Mr Cobb said whoever is elected to the role of Member for Calare will need to have a strong rapport with country people and be prepared to travel thousands of kilometres a year to service the electorate.

“In the last 12 months I suppose I did upward of 70,000 kilometres, but before the boundaries changed when the electorate was larger it was nothing to do 100,000 kms a year,” he said.

“Some of the MPs couldn’t understand in those days an in-car kit for the mobile phone was so important to someone like me, but the reality is when you have an electorate like Calare you do a lot of business while you are in the car.”

Mr Cobb said whoever is elected as the new federal member for the seat of Calare should not lose sight of the fact that smaller towns and villages need the attention of their member.

“Going to a little country show for example is just as important or even more important than attending an event in a bigger city – you must never lose touch with the people,” he said.

Mr Cobb said although he no longer represents Calare, the electorate offices will function as normal with staff retained until the poll is declared after the election.