Eliza Bidstrup

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Sinead Mangan |Alex Hyman |Alex Barwick |Eliza Bidstrup

Every contest is crucial across the country as Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton face off in the federal election, and in regional Australia there are five seats that could play a hand in the overall result. Uniting them all are the key issues on voters' minds, including cost of living, childcare deserts and renewable energy. Here are the five regional seats to watch, starting in Western Australia.

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Sinead Mangan |Alex Hyman |Grant Wolter |Eliza Bidstrup

The electorate of Bullwinkel was created in response to the rapidly growing population of Perth, mashing together historic farming areas, urban fringe and outer suburbia. It's an electorate of strange bedfellows, and hot button issues like the phasing out of live export and Save the Perth Hills are polarising voters on the rural and urban fringe. The three-way contest between Labor, Liberal and The Nationals is a fight between the urban and rural agenda.

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Eliza Bidstrup |Natasha Harradine

Nine decades ago, nine-year-old Mavis Rowles took her first very long ride on a steam train from the red dirt and tin houses of Meekatharra to Toodyay, 700 kilometres away. She was instantly smitten with the small West Australian farming town. "I loved it, loved it from the first moment," Ms Rowles said. "And, well, I more than love it now, I really do."This weekend Ms Rowles, who continues to live independently, is celebrating her 101st birthday.