# A week with Helen Haines changed my life

> A volunteer's account of watching the independent MP work in Canberra, and what her example means now.
- Title: A week with Helen Haines changed my life · the Guardian
- Summary: A volunteer's account of watching the independent MP work in Canberra, and what her example means now. Tim Berenyi spent a week volunteering in Helen Haines'…
- Keywords: helen haines, indi electorate, independent politics, canberra, australian politics, community leadership, news, politics, week, Helen, Haines, changed
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/oct/22/helen-haines-canberra-inspiring-in-action-australia-politics-ntwnfb
- Author: Tim Berenyi
- Published: 2026-10-21T23:56:36+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: helen haines, indi electorate, independent politics, canberra, australian politics, community leadership, news, politics
## Communities carrying heavy weight
Australia's communities have endured bushfires, floods, lockdowns and other disasters since two thousand nineteen. Helen Haines has been a familiar, smiling face helping people through uncertain times.
## Why the author moved home
At age thirty, Tim Berenyi moved to Mansfield in the Victorian Alps, in the Indi electorate.
## Inspired to run for council
Helen's courage and humility as a leader inspired Berenyi to stand as a councillor in local elections. Like Helen, he ran as an independent, wanting to emulate her compassion and honesty.
## Helen's mission for politics
Helen Haines' mission to bring more integrity and transparency into politics is founded in the belief that compassion will prevail. She is the embodiment of finding best solutions between differences.

> Her mission to bring more integrity and transparency into politics is founded in the belief that compassion will prevail.
## A week as parliamentary volunteer
In May, Berenyi spent a week in Canberra as part of Helen's parliamentary volunteer program, attending meetings and observing how she serves communities. That week was the most inspiring of his life.
## Seven cakes during budget week
During budget week, among all meetings, media commitments and rousing speeches, Helen managed to bake seven sponge cakes for people around her. She gave everyone the same kindness, compassion and fair consideration.

> Somehow, during budget week, among all the meetings, media commitments and delivering rousing speeches, Helen managed to bake seven sponge cakes for the people around her.
## The respect she commands
The access and respect that volunteers received because they were associated with Helen was astounding. Her reputation not only preceded her but rubbed off on everyone around them too.

> The access and respect that we volunteers would get because we were associated with Helen was astounding.
## Why she bakes: it's simple
When Berenyi asked why Helen baked cakes during her busy week, she said simply that people appreciate a bit of kindness, and everyone loves cake. It was typical Helen style.

> It was because people appreciate a bit of kindness, and everyone loves cake.
## What we should learn from her
If we were all more like Helen, we would work through complex problems together. We should do away with left-right polarisation and look forward together with a shared perspective.
## Key takeaway

Tim Berenyi spent a week volunteering in Helen Haines' parliamentary office and found her approach to politics, built on compassion, integrity and kindness, deeply inspiring.