Miss Maud Coffee Bean Poll 2004

2004 Federal Election

The Miss Maud Coffee Bean Poll was first run for the 1996 Federal Election, and has since continued to stir up enthusiastic conversation - and surprisingly accurate results - amongst Miss Maud customers. The Miss Maud Coffee Bean Poll is co-ordinated by the Morning Tea Party of WA.

At Miss Maud locations, patrons are invited to drop a coffee bean inside the glass beakers representing the key political parties, with daily tallies providing a heady brew for all.

Now in its 9th year, the Miss Maud Coffee Bean Poll has an enviable track record and traditionally proves more accurate than established pollsters AGB: McNair, Morgan Gallop and Newspoll - confirming that monitoring conversation as it percolates into votes is a true indicator of public opinion, all within a relaxing environment.

For the October 2004 Federal Election, the Miss Maud Coffee Bean Poll continued to attract record numbers of 'spilled beans' from enthusiastic customers eager to place their vote.

Fresh from the percolating pot of community opinion and under the vigilant eye of our official bean counters, Grant Thornton, Chartered Accountants, the final results were declared by our Official Returning Officer and Deputy Chairman of Celebrate WA, John Garland at a pre-election party at the MTP Campaign Headquarters, held in the Miss Maud Swedish Restaurant, the day BEFORE the Federal Election.

1st October 2004 Article in The Australian
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FINAL FLAVOUR OF THE BREW
8th October 2004

Here is what 36,380 Miss Maud customers let their coffee beans say:

President, Morning Tea Party of W.A.

DEMOCRATS	4.2%
GREENS	10.0%
LABOR	32.0%
LIBERAL	41.9%
NATIONAL	4.7%
OTHERS	7.2%
MORNING TEA PARTY OF W.A.	CLOSED DUE TO OVERWHELMING SUPPORT

Morning Tea Party of W.A.

Written and authorised by Miss Maud, Perth - Murray Street, Perth CBD, Belmont, Carousel, Garden City, Innaloo, Karrinyup, Midland, Morley, Mirrabooka, Warwick and West Perth

Lynne Evans (CEO- St. Bartholomew's), Rob Mogridge (Salvation Army), Josey Hansen (Aboriginal Services Manager - Anglicare), Ian Carter (CEO - Anglicare WA) and Miss Maud
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This year’s Federal Election served up more than just campaign promises for several Perth charities, when a 1000-piece cake bearing the results of the unique Miss Maud Coffee Bean Poll was delivered to Anglicare headquarters in downtown Perth.

Representatives from Anglicare WA, St Bartholomew’s House, Wesley Mission, St Vincent de Paul and the Salvation Army came together to accept a portion of the massive chocolate and coffee torte.

The enormous, elaborately decorated cake was unveiled at an election party on Friday morning, when the President of the Morning Tea Party of WA (MTPWA), Maud Edmiston – aka Miss Maud – announced the results of the 2004 Miss Maud Coffee Bean Poll. The poll saw more than 36,000 customers cast a bean for the party of their choice at one of 18 ‘Bean Polling Booths’ around Perth over the last three weeks.

CEO of Anglicare WA, Ian Carter said the gesture would enable the charities to bring a smile to the faces of hundreds of people in need throughout Perth.

“When Miss Maud initially contacted us, we thought it would be a wonderful thing to be able to share with the many people that come through our Emergency Relief Centre every day,” Mr. Carter said

“But when we saw the size of the cake – which took six people just to carry it – we realised this was an opportunity to help a far greater network of people.

“When our clients come in, they are often at a point where they are very low on hope and in need of a friendly face,” Mr. Carter said “This generous gesture has allowed us to offer them an extra special treat.”

While many of the official election pollsters forecast a close contest in last Saturday’s election, the Miss Maud Coffee Bean Poll – which is designed to encourage community involvement and discussion – accurately predicted a comfortable win for the Coalition.

“The true focus has never really been on getting the results right”, Ms Edmiston said, “though in the six times the poll has been conducted it has been consistently correct.”

“For us, the Coffee Bean Poll is less about being right and more about stimulating interest in the issues of the day and encouraging a sense of community through coffee and conversation,” she said.

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2004 Federal Election