From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Aden Ridgeway
Aden Ridgeway
Aden Ridgeway In April 2001, Ridgeway was elected deputy leader of
the Democrats, after Natasha Stott Despoja toppled Meg
Senator for New South Wales Lees in a leadership spill.
In office Ridgeway continued as deputy leader until August
1 July 1999 – 30 June 2005 2002, when along with fellow senators John Cherry, Lyn
Allison and Andrew Murray, he succeeded in forcing
Personal details
Stott Despoja to resign. It was widely tipped that he
Born 18 September 1962 (1962-09-18) would succeed her as leader. However, the media did not
Macksville, New South Wales portray the spill kindly, labelling them the ’Gang of Four’.
Nationality Australian Ridgeway was expected to be appointed interim
leader however, in a surprise decision, the party’s Na-
Political party Australian Democrats
tional Executive installed Brian Greig as interim leader
Occupation Public servant due to the role Ridgeway played in forcing the resigna-
tion of Stott Despoja. Ridgeway did not contest the subse-
Aden Derek Ridgeway (born 18 September 1962), Aus- quent leadership ballot, at which Andrew Bartlett defeat-
tralian politician, was a member of the Australian Senate ed Brian Greig. Ridgeway was technically leader between
for New South Wales, from 1999 to 2005, representing the Natasha Stott Despoja’s resignation and the appointment
Australian Democrats. During his term he was the only of Brian Greig as interim leader.
Aboriginal member of the Australian Parliament. Ridgeway also stood down as deputy leader and was
replaced by Lyn Allison. Ridgeway did not contest the
Early history leadership and stood down as deputy leader as he felt the
National Executive’s decision not to appoint him as inter-
Ridgeway was born in Macksville, New South Wales, as im leader was a reflection on him in a leadership posi-
one of the Gumbaynggirr people. After leaving school in tion.
Year 11, he worked as a boilermaker. He then became in- He remained in the Senate, being particularly active
volved in the public service. In this role, he engaged in on issues of indigenous affairs and reconciliation. He lost
a number of careers, including being a park ranger and his seat in the 2004 election, along with Cherry, Lees
working in several New South Wales government depart- (who had since left the party), and Greig. His term ex-
ments. pired on 30 June 2005.
In 1990, Ridgeway was elected onto the first ATSIC
Sydney Regional Council, a position in which he served
two terms of office. He joined the Australian Democrats Post-political career
in 1991. In 1995, he became the executive director of the In May 2006, Ridgeway was selected as the new host of
New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. He continued ABC Television’s Message Stick program. He is also the in-
in this position until 2000. augural chairman of Indigenous Tourism Australia. [1]
Aden Ridgeway is also an Ambassador of the Aus-
Political career tralian Indigenous Education Foundation.
During 1997-98 Ridgeway served as the state policy con-
vener for the New South Wales Branch of the Democrats. References
He was subsequently selected in the first position on the [1] The Age (2006). Present politics. Retrieved 6 July
Democrats’ Senate ticket at the 1998 election. This led 2006.
to him becoming only the third Aboriginal member of Persondata
an Australian parliament, after Neville Bonner and Ernie
Name Ridgeway, Aden
Bridge.
Ridgeway has served on a number of parliamentary Alternative names
and senate committees. In March 2001, he addressed the Short description Australian politician
United Nations Special Session on Racism. He also attend- Date of birth 18 September 1962
ed the World Conference Against Racism in South Africa
Place of birth Macksville, New South Wales
in the same year.
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From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Aden Ridgeway
Date of death Place of death
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Aden_Ridgeway&oldid=468787780"
Categories:
• 1962 births
• Living people
• Indigenous Australian people
• Australian Democrats politicians
• Indigenous Australian politics
• Indigenous Australian politicians
• Members of the Australian Senate
• Members of the Australian Senate for New South Wales
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