Exultation, Media & Greens MP Ellen Sandell in Royal Park this morning

Delighted Keith Fitzgerald

Keith was visibly shaken as he talked to the media this morning about his delight at Labor's win. After 15 months rugged campaigning, with 5am picket lines and battles with the police in the inner city streets, the axe has finally been removed from over his head. He and his sister look forward to resuming their normal lives secure in their home of 69 years in their beloved Collingwood. And Keith was not the only one thrilled about the turn of events.

Two more seasoned campaigners

Fred, our mascot, could hardly contain himself. He has been dogged throughout the campaign, resisting the urge to chase birds and sniff trees, so that he could hold the line at our pickets. But this morning he was leaping on people, wagging his tail and was keen to be the first to congratulate Ellen Sandell. Ellen was rightly delighted with her win. And it meant a lot to us that her first action in the new post was to cycle to Royal Park to join us and to express her gratitude to all the community members who have so vociferously and effectively opposed the East-West Link.

Congratulations Ellen Sandell! 

When asked by an interviewer about how she sees her role as the first Greens MP in the new government, Ellen replied: 'My main job is to keep Daniel Andrews to his word.'  Yay!

Greg Barber, Greens MP Upper House

Greg Barber joined us too. He is still hoping that Samantha Dunn, who has campaigned for Doncaster Rail, might make it into the Upper House. Greg is clear that he is going to insist that not only the contracts entered into by the Napthine Government for the East-West Link, but all the others traffic infrastructure projects be brought out into the open. This suggestion received a round of applause from the protestors.

Tony Murphy

Tony suggested that while there is cause for guarded optimism, we still have work to do. It will be most important that there is a strong community presence at the Court Case on 15 December, when the valiant Yarra and Moreland councils mount their legal challenge against the odious project.

Dashing to the car park to head off to work, I stopped for a moment to watch this tiny bird in one of the park's grand eucalypts. I'm sure she was trilling: 'Hallelujah!'