Mildren’s historic win

It had been held by the Liberal Party for the 25 years prior to the 1980 election.

The environment was a far cry from the Labor stronghold the city seems to be today. 

But this weekend a celebration will be held to remember the 35^th anniversary of Mr Mildren winning the seat of Ballarat. 

Mr Mildren said he actually never had intention of running for parliament. 

“It was a tremendously life changing experience because this in itself wasn’t something that I had given much thought to,” he said.  

“You had to work like mad right from day one which I did.

“Because there was no way I was going to wait until the election was called next year to say I was the candidate.  

“Because I had started so early, after a while I become part of the political scene because the media were marvelous to me. 

“We built up the momentum but we were starting from well behind scratch.”

Mr Mildren held the seat until 1990 when  now Ballarat Senator Michael Ronaldson returned the seat to the Liberal Party. 

Those successful campaigns spurred on the political careers of many local stalwarts including former premier Steve Bracks and Buninyong MP Geoff Howard. 

“He was well respected, everyone thought John was the real deal,” Mr Howard said. 

“It wasn't about which side of politics you were on, John was there for all of them.” 

However, the current state of federal politics isn’t something that pleases Mr Mildren. 

“I am very pleased I am not there, it is adolescent, it is superficial and so is the media,” he said.

“There are some very good ones, but often they approach it with the "gotcha" approach and that is both sides (of politics).

“Question time is the time when the Opposition can try and put pressure on the government but I believe that particular atmosphere, which has been there forever, has gone outside that time. 

“It is terribly important that the former prime minister Tony Abbott is gone because he was so terribly divisive and you couldn’t even imagine having a conversation with him.”

“I could picture myself having a conversation with (Prime Minister Malcolm) Turnbull.”