The decision came after a crisis meeting of the Milton-Ulladulla branch, whose members are said to be “gob-smacked and outraged” over the party’s decision to parachute Mr Boyle into the Gilmore electorate over Neil Reilly.

“You hear about this happening to other people, but until it happens to you, I don’t think you know how you’ll react,” Ms Drysdale said.

“I’ve been surprised at the depth of my reaction. I’m absolutely incensed.”

While Ms Drysdale said the branch was “still considering its options”, which included the possibility of merging with other local ALP branches, she admitted it was likely that her small regional branch would soon cease to exist.

“We’ve been told Boyle is our local candidate,” she said. “But he’s not. There’s nothing local about him - we don’t even know the guy.

“I don’t blame David for a second,” she added, “it’s not surprising that he’s shocked by our reaction, not having been a member of the ALP and not knowing how rank and file loyalty works.”

The issue of party loyalty was a strong theme at the meeting, with Ms Drysdale claiming the unpopular decision made many faithful members feel as if they were in “an abusive relationship”.

“You expect more back than this,” she said. “We expected loyalty, and it’s fair to say we’re all deeply disturbed by the actions of the national executive. Personally, I can’t see how I can continue to be a member of the ALP under these circumstances.”

While the branch treads water in deciding its next move, Ms Drysdale said she was still holding out hope that the decision to appoint David Boyle would be reversed.

“To be honest, the only reason we didn’t pack up last night was the faint possibility that Reilly might still stand, somehow. He deserves another chance.”

Meanwhile, the Jervis Bay-St Georges Basin branch will meet on Tuesday night to discuss its options.

Branch president Veronica Husted said the likely outcome would be “not a single person from the branch working in the Gilmore electorate”.

Ms Husted said the Boyle preselection made her feel as if a 30-year marriage had ended in acrimony.

“It feels like discovering there really isn’t a Santa Claus,” she said.

“I have given 30 years of my life to [the ALP] and haven’t given enough time and attention to my family and now feel totally gutted.”

The party’s Kiama branch is due to meet on Wednesday.

“No doubt there will be some interesting general business,” said Neil Reilly.

“There is a lot of anger in the branches. People who are McKell award winners, lifetime and long-time serving members are still mystified.”