Maybe you do not interact much with the 'average Aussie'. Private or Public school system is irrelevant. There are a very high level of what we term, 'bogans'. They fall generally into 2 categories, garden variety bogans and bogans with money. Private school bogans are the best kind - think James Packer.
And suspect Claudia will join them by the end of year! Huge race from Billings and Griffith. Will be a difficult choice for selectors.
conversely - you’ve got to wonder if Ramsden at some point is doing his selection chances more harm than good. His major championship racing record is terrible, and despite being given more opportunities to run fast than all of his contemporaries, time and time again he demonstrates he’s not at that level.
Bideau has no sway on the Olympic team selection. Or at least there is no evidence he does. Ramsden has never been selected for a team where a better athlete nominated. Bideau however does have HUGE sway in getting his athletes into diamond league races over athletes of similar / higher quality. Unfortunately for Mottram, his feud with Bideau makes it much harder for his athletes to get into these types of races - they are represented by agents that are far less well connected. Note that in terms of getting into races, Bideau doesn’t favour athletes he coaches over other athletes that he is only the agent of - for example Narve Nordas.