Monday Mural - At school and my first Elections

On Saturday 18th May we had Federal elections and it was the first time I voted as well.
After lunch I walked to the local Primary school to cast my vote and was surprised to see a few murals in the school grounds.
This one looked as if it was painted by children, maybe with some grown-up help.

If you like murals or have a mural you'd like to post, this meme is for you. 

Just follow the Linky steps below.   Be sure to link back to this blog and visit

your fellow mural bloggers.  

Looking forward to your mural finds this week. Thanks, Sami. 

On other walls there were two panels with ceramic flowers, made by the children in collaboration with Perth ceramist artist Jenny Dawson.

And some more murals painted by the kids on the library wall. Very sweet aren't they?

There was also a sausage sizzle and a second-hand book sale (to which I had donated a few books via the "Buy nothing" facebook page for my suburb.  Funds reverted to the area's playgroup.  As the ladies were in the process of packing up, before going in I browsed the boxes and bought 5 books at $2 each. I think I donated 7 or 8 books, so I have space for 5 😏.

As I mentioned it was the first time I voted in Australia, and I had to familiarize myself with the voting process as it's different from Portugal or South Africa where I voted before.

At the entrance to the school, banners and people handling out pamphlets  for various parties. I wonder if people would still change their minds by reading a pamphlet while in the queue to vote?

I joined a short queue into the voting hall, I was asked my name and address, and was surprised there was no need to show ID.  

Since the 1920's voting is compulsory and over 91% of registered voters vote. There's a $20 fine for non-voters unless they have a valid reason (maybe mental incapacity), but you can also vote early if you're travelling for example, or vote by post.

You are given two ballot papers - a green one with 8 parties and names for the House of Representatives (lower house or the people's house. There are 150 members elected to the House of Representatives (MPs),  and you have to put numbers in the order you want your vote to count.

Then a metre long white ballot paper for the Senate (Upper house - It consists of 76 senators, twelve from each of the six states and two from each of the mainland territories. It shares the power to make laws with the House of Representatives) and you have to tick 6 options above the line (party), or tick 12 boxes below the line (with names of the various candidates).

Of course I'd heard about the main parties and their policies and intentions, but I was surprised at the size of the Senate ballot paper with so many parties I hadn't heard about until then - the Involuntary medication (objectors vaccination/fluoride) Party, or the 

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party or the Animal Justice Party, etc.

Labour was predicted to win according to polls, but there was a surprise win by the Liberals, which were already in power.

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Saturday evening I joined 3 other "lonely" friends at a dinner to celebrate Mother's Day at the WA Portuguese club. 

Dinner was free for female members, men and non-members paid $20. Dinner was a delicious vegetable soup and then a plate of meat stew. A plate with various slices of cake and coffee/tea ended the meal. Afterwards there was singing and dancing. A fun evening!

Dancing at the Portuguese club, the singers and the Meat stew

On Sunday 19th, I baked a banana and walnut cake with cream cheese frosting and went to visit one of our Doctors at the clinic where I work, that I consider a friend too. He had two knee replacements done about 2 weeks ago and is now back home.

A full weekend! Hope you had a fun weekend 😃.