Series 02: Alan Gibson Stewart papers, 1987-1989 - Page 85
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machines cranked up for a major effort. If Labor won the seat, Wran would go to the polls in a general election as soon as possible. Earlwood was the litmus test.
Peter Randall and I drove accross Sydney to help on the day of the by-election. I hoped to pick up some ideas for my own campaign: the design of posters and pamphlets, the organisation of booth workers, the management of publicity.
We reported to the campaign office, which was set up in a shop on a main street. It had been refurbished and decorated with professional songwriting. Calmly sitting behind a desk was the campaign manager, Steve Loosely. A young graduate in Political Science, Loosely was Assistant General Secretary or the A.L.P. in N.S.W. I was pleased to see that his chubby face was enhanced by a curly ginger beard. He chatted with us while workers bustled in and out, and messages were taken on a battery of phones by office staff.
"Communication is the thing," Loosely advised, leaning back in his chair.
"What about publicity?"
"You must talk to the Press early in the piece--we've had a good run from them here."
We were sent off to help at a booth for the rest of the day. There we found a local team supported by a mixture of party members from all over Sydney.