In the wake of the tragic attack on their local MP, Carroll put pen to paper.
asserted
Carroll → put → paper
In a series of comics that are gaining traction on social media, the young queer artist shares a powerful, personal account of their experience with Ms Haines.
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artist → gain → Haines
"Helen Haines has not only made me feel heard, valued and safe, but hopeful in a political climate of fearmongering and useless culture wars," they write.
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they → make → fearmongering
Lifelong connection
The electorate of Indi has had an independent representative for much of Carroll's life.
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electorate → have → life
Cathy McGowan won the safe Liberal seat while they were still in primary school.
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they → win → school
When Carroll was 13, Ms Haines made history as the first independent to succeed another independent MP in federal parliament.
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Haines → make → parliament
At 16, Carroll joined Ms Haines' youth advisory group and helped shape a speech about climate change that was delivered in parliament.
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that → join → parliament
At 17, they and their friends felt the threat of homophobia in their backyard, when the Wangaratta Rainbow Ball was cancelled due to security concerns.
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Ball → feel → concerns
It was the MP's response that helped ease some of that fear.
"
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that → ease → fear
She posted on her Facebook, saying to all the queer people in Indi… you're welcome, you're safe and you're loved here," Carroll wrote.
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Carroll → post → Indi
"I always feel so inspired by all the work she was doing, especially with the anti-corruption commission."
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she → feel → commission
'She genuinely cares'
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She → care → ?
Mansfield's Connor McFadden has described Ms Haines as "a mum to the community".
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McFadden → describe → community
Ms Haines was elected to the seat of Indi when he was in high school and she visited several times while he was there.
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he → elect → school
He said Ms Haines made a difference: setting up a leadership program for Mansfield Secondary School's leadership team, securing funding for the local historical society and attending the naming of the Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin stadium.
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Haines → say → stadium
When Mr McFadden moved to Canberra to study, it wasn't long before he saw a familiar face.
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he → move → face
Ms Haines was part of a 'Pollies in the Pub' event, run by the Australian National University's Regional, Rural and Remote Society.
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Haines → run → Society
Mr McFadden was attending, and went to introduce himself as a former constituent.
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McFadden → attend → constituent
He didn't get very far before Ms Haines' face 'lit up' with recognition.
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face → get → recognition
"She remembered my name, she remembered the Mansfield connection … even though I'd only met her once, and it was two years ago,"he said.
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it → remember → her
Ms Haines' nature stuck with Mr McFadden, in a world where, he said, politicians can be 'a bit robotic'.
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politicians → stick → world
"It's never like she's trying to get your vote, she genuinely cares about things within your life, in your community, in your family," Mr McFadden said.
"
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McFadden → try → family
It's what I always admire her for."
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I → admire → her
Half a world away
Now 21, Carroll is studying over in the UK for a semester.
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Carroll → study → semester
They said Monday's alleged attack left them shocked, and feeling hopeless.
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attack → say → them
"I was definitely feeling homesick before all this unfolded, now the ache to be home is a lot stronger," they said.
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they → feel → ?
"I started writing [the comic] as a way to deal with my emotions, and get it all off my chest."
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I → start → chest
Carroll said they would like to see more empathy in politics, and in general.
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they → say → politics
"As a country, we all have a responsibility, whether you lean left or right, to practise tolerance," they said.
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they → have → tolerance
"I think this event should be a lesson to all of us, that no matter if you disagree, you've got to still respect each other."
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you → think → other
The series ends with a Dr Haines' campaign icon, the orange cockatoo, with its wings outspread.
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wings → end → icon
"Thank you, Helen Haines," it reads.
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it → thank → you
"I'm rooting for you."
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I → root → you
The Aporia