October Countdown — 4+2 weeks to go!
Campaign trail update — Joshi4Ashwood
Hi everyone,
Welcome to another update of recent events on the Joshi4Ashwood campaign trail. It’s Hitendra here, looking back at this week. And looking forward, we only have 4 weeks until the start of pre-poll, then less than 2 weeks until election day! If you haven’t yet, now is the time to get involved — please volunteer and donate.
Recent events
Bollywood Fundraiser — Friday 9 October
Well. What can I say? What an incredible night! It exceeded all expectations, and I am so grateful for your help.
A vibrant sea of colour, music and grassroots enthusiasm filled the room with over 90 people, many dressed in their finest attire. We were treated to an unforgettable evening featuring a local DJ spinning high-energy tracks, an electric dance floor, and a sensational three-course Indian feast from local caterers. Dancing kicked off with a bespoke campaign song — I am Joshi. Thousands of dollars were raised, going directly to campaign flyers, corflutes and volunteer t-shirts. My heartfelt thanks to the volunteer organisers for all their hard work.
This event proved one clear message: no amount of party machine money — from vested interests like corporates, fossil fuels, churches, unions or mining billionaires — can buy this level of genuine community support. Ashwood and Victorians want a change for the better, away from a party system where for too long party interests dominate people’s needs. We are that change — people before parties.
Meet & Greets on the Streets, Ashburton and Chadstone Village — Saturday 10 October
With tired dancing legs but a heart brimming with gratitude, I chatted with many people on a leisurely Saturday morning as they strolled with their families, had a café brekky and did their local shopping. A couple of complete strangers said a genuine “thank you for standing”. They were not just happy but delighted to see an independent candidate in their own electorate.
Mt Waverley Market — Sunday 11 October
It was great to enjoy a cuppa and admire the local produce, vendors and public coming together at a happening local market. Time with the public reinforced a few acquaintances from a couple of weeks ago, and encouraged people to sign up as volunteers!
Electrify Boroondara — Sunday 11 October
This was my first visit to this well-organised and well-attended community event. I was thrilled to see a range of battery-operated appliances, electric vehicles and modular inverter-and-battery sets, and intrigued by the participation of so many versatile businesses. Congratulations and thank you to Boroondara Council for supporting such a meaningful initiative!
Weekly Internal Campaign Meeting — Monday 12 October
Our weekly internal campaign meeting was on a high after Bollywood Night. We saw how a successful fundraiser can completely change the momentum of a campaign, especially when the accounts were running low. The Bollywood Night theme really resonated with our donors and brought in that critical life-saver injection of funds right when we needed it. Thank you again for your support.
Housing Forum Town Hall — Tuesday 13 October
We joined Malvern’s community independent candidate Christina Zigouras to unpack how affordable housing can be made accessible to all segments of our community. We had the privilege of learning from experts Andrea Sharam (Director, RMIT-AHURI Research Centre) and Frank Rizzo (Managing Director, FTR Construction and Development). Drawing on Andrea’s extensive housing market research and Frank’s practical property development experience in Melbourne, they delivered deeper insights into construction and market trends — supply and demand, interest rate shifts, the impact of planning permits and cost of living — to explain what influences property values.
It became clear to me that the next Victorian parliament needs to focus on housing more people in Ashwood and Malvern, without losing the green space and character we love.
Volunteer Inductions — Friday 16 October
To continue our regular inductions, we pivoted to an online format this week to onboard new team members. We provided comprehensive information, answered questions, and guided first-time volunteers through the natural mix of excitement and nerves. Special thanks to our incredible volunteer coordination team, who manage everything from availability-based scheduling and training to distributing campaign essentials like t-shirts, flyers and corflutes. Through continuous engagement and structured mentorship, they ensure every volunteer feels confident, equipped and fully supported from day one. We couldn’t do this without them!
More flyers are ready to letterbox!
The energy and excitement across our volunteer team were absolutely electric as we started prepping fresh bundles of flyers for our next letterboxing run! Put on your walking shoes and volunteer now!
Corflutes are multiplying around Ashwood!
A special shout-out to the volunteers who went above and beyond, hitting the streets to securely install corflutes on fences. Their dedication and hard work are driving this campaign forward, and we couldn’t be more grateful to this amazing volunteer group.
Thank you to everyone hosting a corflute on your property. If you’d like to host one, or need more to display, please get in touch with my team.
Final thank-you shout-out!
A big thank you to Sunny from Veg Mart on Warrigal Road, Ashburton, for hosting a corflute in his shop window! Now, while you shop local for top-quality fresh produce, you can see a top-quality fresh face in the window. As a local, it’s important for me to support our local businesses. Thank you, Sunny!
Next events
Looking forward, here’s where you can meet Hitendra and get involved:
- Letterbox Drop — now to Sunday 25 October. Pick up flyers and walk a street near you. Volunteer
- Halloween on High St — Saturday 24 October, 5:00–8:00pm. Come and say hello to Hitendra and the Joshi for Ashwood team.
- Mt Waverley Village Market — Sunday 15 November, 9:00am–1:00pm. Come and meet Hitendra and the Joshi for Ashwood team.
- Pub Night — Wednesday 18 November, 7:00pm. Catch up with Hitendra and the Joshi for Ashwood team.
Follow the campaign
If you haven’t already, please follow us. Liking and sharing our posts is one of the easiest ways you can help the campaign reach more people.
Please join us to turn Ashwood truly independent
Backed by the community — working for people, not a party.
Thank you for being part of this campaign.
Hitendra and the Joshi4Ashwood team
Authorised by G Storer, 16-20 Bulli Street, Moorabbin, Victoria 3189.