Excited, relieved and ready to hit the campaign trail, Mrs Pavey told the Guardian that she and her family were preparing to move into the electorate from their rented home in Coffs Harbour.

“Maybe to a little macadamia farm - that would keep us grounded and also put me in touch with the primary industry sector,” Mrs Pavey said.

“I believe a lot more can be done in this sector - we have avocadoes, beef, dairy and seafood and a lot of under-utilised land.

“Some of that could be leased to help give young farmers a leg-up into the industry.”

She said with the new Pacific Highway well underway in the district, the challenge was getting strategic signage in place to seize the marketing opportunities that present.

“When the trucks go (out of the towns bypassed) there will be many beautiful peaceful places for tourists to visit.

“Getting the marketing right to stimulate a healthy tourist industry is one of my goals.”

Education is another key area she highlighted, singling out schools like Bowraville Central, who are creating training pathways within the school, as examples of “leadership and clever thinking in education”.

“I am so pleased NSW has signed up to Gonski - extra resources will be coming to those schools that need it to close the gap between city and regional education opportunities. 

“But communities also have to be resilient and support each other - personal responsibility is the key, not a handout mentality.”

And when it comes to health, Mrs Pavey reassured Valley residents there would be an announcement soon on funds for Macksville Hospital.

“I understand the frustration, I feel it too, but the funding will be coming,” she said.

You can expect to see Mrs Pavey a lot in the months ahead, at local markets from Wauchope to Dorrigo and also knocking on residential doors, as she starts the hard work of raising her profile in an electorate that, after 16 years, has grown accustomed to being represented by Andrew Stoner.