Cooper Listening Post Notes from Saturday 18th April 2026
Group met at Jawz Coffee in Railway Place, Preston at 10.30am
Attendance:
Anne, Rob, Rob Salter, Graham Moore, Brendan O’Reily
Rob Salter will meet with Patrick, Eliza, Francesca, Brendan and anyone else who is is keen to host kitchen-table conversations.
Ideally, these conversations would be run in diverse areas across the electorate of Cooper, not just in the south.
Mary Crooks views on how to set up kitchen-table networks are worth reading about or listening to.
Leaders and scribes of kitchen-table conversations need to be trained – they might be able to go to a session for this.
Farrer by-election is on Saturday 9th May. Some CLP people may be going to help with pre-poll voting etc.
People talked about expanding the group. Mary said that Zali Stegall had success in getting many year-11 and 12 students involved in her campaign.
Brendan said he would talk to year-11 and 12 teachers at Bundoora Secondary College where he works. Would it be possible for a speaker from our group to talk to students?
Possible points of contact and recruitment:
School councils
Parent groups
Neighbourhood houses
Student unions at La Troble Uni and elsewhere
Fair Growth Thornbury
Parents for Climate Change Action (?)
Save the Preston Market campaign mobilised large numbers of people 2-3 years ago – they may be worth contacting.
Next Steps:
People to work at libraries, railway stations, markets including Preston and the Alphington Farmers’ Market.
Next meeting will be again at Jawz Coffee on Saturday 2nd May 2026, 10.30am