John Howard at the Blacktown Workers Club The Australian 2006

John Stapleton
YESTERDAY there were about 80 demonstrators outside the Blacktown Workers Club, social centre of Greenway, the Liberal's most marginal NSW seat and their third most marginal seat in Australia.

Prime Minister John Howard's arrival was greeted with the by now almost traditional chant of ``Hey hey, hoh hoh, Johnny Howard's got to go''.

Well not if you spoke to those inside the club, where more than 800 adoring Howard fans had gathered, men and women, young and old, recent migrants and established families.

The seat of Greenway, which envelops the classic western Sydney working class suburb of Blacktown, fell to the Liberals for the first time in its history at the last election. It is a quintessential working class seat, home to the ``Howard battlers'' who have been so influential in his success. Louise Markus holds the seat by just 0.6 per cent, or approximately 800 votes. Support for Labor remains strong. More than 30,000 people marched through the suburb's streets last month as part of a nationwide protest against the new industrial relations laws.

But from the minute Howard entered the club he was in his element. That he had been fighting one of his fiercest and most embarrassing political battles was far from evident. As sprightly as ever, he worked the room with gusto, shaking hands with virtually everyone gathered in the club's auditorium.

Thousands of photographs were taken as he posed cheerfully with children, parents, pensioners and community groups.
Ostensibly there for a community morning tea to thank the area's many volunteer groups, Howard used the opportunity to heap praise on Louise Markus, who he described as the perfect example of a community based politician.

In his oft applauded speech he reminded people that he too had been born in the suburbs of Sydney. He described Western Sydney as an area full of people aspirational for the future of their children, a place where people could start with nothing and build a life, a small business, raise a family. ``I have always had in my political career an affinity with the people of Western Sydney... I have seen it as a part of Australia that brings together so many tributaries of modern Australian life.... Can I express my admiration for the spirit of Western Sydney, the way in which they have embraced the ideal of aspiring to build better lives for themselves, their children and their community. It is the essence of modern Australia.''

As he moved around the Blacktown auditorium he was greeted enthusiastically by all comers. A group of recently arrived Sudanese presented Howard with a soccer ball as a token of their community's appreciation for his support. Spokesman Ajanc Biar said Howard had been a ``marvellous'' Prime Minister for the past 10 years, providing prosperity and a good economy.

Lisa Sargent, 17, from Nagle College, said Howard was ``highly respected''. ``It was really good that he went round and talked to the young people and high school students. We will all be voting next year. He is very grounded and he seems very approachable.''

Mrs Norma Stoker, 70, of Blacktown, said: ``I love the PM, I think he is fantastic. He loves our country, he loves Australia, and to me that means everything.''

As far as she, and many others were concerned, Peter Costello had a ``hide'' to tell Howard when he should go. ``I like Peter Costello but I don't think he should be doing what he is doing,'' she said.

After shaking the hands of hundreds of people, Howard then held what most would find to be a gruelling press conference. He expressed his and Australia's compassion and sympathy for the terror victims of India, but all the media wanted to know about was the leadership stoush with Costello. Howard's final, perhaps mischievous, line to the media as he departed was: ``Ten and a half years and counting''.

Many at Blacktown yesterday would be happy to see the count go much higher.