Andrew Katos may be a newly-elected member of state parliament, but when he voted at his alma mater, South Barwon Primary School, on Saturday, none of the teachers recognised him.

The Brumby government was very happy to take in all the taxes, but they lacked providing the basic infrastructure and services to the community.

“It’s been a while,” Mr Katos, who won the seat with a swing of 5.9 per cent, says.

But, after all the campaigning, the voting, the sausages and the counting were complete, Mr Katos received a special phone call.

“My former grade five teacher who just lives around the corner from me actually rang me and congratulated me, so that was very nice,” Mr Katos says.

During the campaign, Mr Katos maintained he was the underdog. He had to defeat the sitting member, Labor’s Michael Crutchfield, Parliamentary Secretary for Environment, Water and Climate Change.

But as election day drew closer, Mr Katos says he felt the momentum begin to turn his way.

“Particularly on polling day, I felt like there was a lot of support there as I went around the booths,” he says.

Mr Katos says the major concerns in South Barwon are local examples of the concerns that saw voters around the state turn away from the ALP.

“It is about growth,” he says.

“The Brumby government was very happy to take in all the taxes, but they lacked providing the basic infrastructure and services to the community.”

In South Barwon, which includes the major growth areas of Waurn Ponds and north Torquay, Mr Katos says the population has boomed, with 5 000 more registered voters since the last election.

And he says it wasn’t simply a case of turning away from Labor – he says the Liberal party ran a very positive campaign.

“We’ve committed to fund three kindergartens – two new buildings and an extension to an existing one,” he says.

We’ve committed to a new secondary college in Torquay, a new police station and state emergency service in Warn Ponds, a new hospital in Waurn Ponds, a new railway station, so we’re looking to provide that service delivery.”

Now he’s a state MP, Mr Katos says he won’t be able to continue in the family business.

But he says between his brothers and business partner, Katos Fish Supply, which was started by Mr Katos’ father, will continue.

After, presumably, a small celebration.

“My father, Angelo, was very happy, he’s been a Liberal for years in small business and he was very pleased,” Mr Katos says.