Candidate death delays voting

by Emma Ballingall

Saturday's election in Narracan has been abandoned after the sudden death of Nationals candidate Shaun Gilchrist on Sunday.
The Nationals' state director Matthew Harris confirmed Mr Gilchrist's death yesterday morning after informing the Victorian Electoral Commission of his "tragic and unexpected death".
A specialist in information technology, Mr Gilchrist, 47, of Warragul, grew up at Jindivick and spent 20 years working overseas in senior management roles.
His death means votes already lodged in Narracan will be set aside and a new election will be held. Election timelines, including candidate nominations are expected to be announced after this Saturday's state election.
Narracan electorate residents are still required to lodge upper house votes on Saturday or via pre-polling. Upper house ballot papers for Eastern Victoria Region that have already been lodged will be taken and counted.
The VEC said late yesterday afternoon that, under Victoria's electoral laws, if a candidate died before 6pm on election day, the election for that district would be declared "failed".
"Our thoughts and condolences go out to Mr Gilchrist's family, friends and loved ones," said acting electoral commissioner Dana Fleming. "I acknowledge that the local community will also be in mourning."
Both the ALP and opposition party leaders issued statements to offer their condolences.
"While Shaun and I had never met, I know he was respected by so many across the community for his warmth, his humour and his hard work," Premier Daniel Andrews said.
"Our thoughts are with his family and friends, as well as his colleagues and his supporters, who are all grieving the most tragic of losses."
In a joint statement from Liberal Party leader Matt Guy and The Nationals leader Peter Walsh, they said it was with great sadness that they acknowledged the death of Mr Gilchrist.
"The Gilchrist family are in our thoughts and have asked for privacy and respect during their time of grief," they said.
Retiring Member for Narracan Gary Blackwood said Mr Gilchrist, a former student of Marist-Sion College, had been a good friend of his family for many years.
"His tragic passing has robbed our community of a tremendous young family man who had already done so much for his community," Mr Blackwood said.
In his recent candidate profile interview with The Gazette, Mr Gilchrist said a driving reason behind his nomination was the need for much stronger recognition of regional and rural Victoria than is shown by the present Labor government.
It also was revealed yesterday that a Melbourne County Court listing for next week confirmed Mr Gilchrist was due to face a directions hearing for sex related offences and he was set to face a criminal trial in June next year.
Mr Gilchrist's body was found in bushland near Rawson on Sunday. Victoria Police will prepare a report for the coroner but the death is not being treated as suspicious.
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