Aden Ridgeway

Aden Derek Ridgeway (born 18 September, 1962), Australian politician, was a member of the Australian Senate for New South Wales, from 1999 to 2005, representing the Australian Democrats. During his term he was the only Aboriginal member of the Australian Parliament.

Related Topics:
18 September - 1962 - Australian - Australian Senate - New South Wales - 1999 - 2005 - Australian Democrats - Aboriginal - Australian Parliament

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Ridgeway was born in Macksville, New South Wales, as one of the Gumbaynggir people. After leaving school in Year 11, he worked as a boilermaker. He then became involved in the public service. In this role, he engaged in a number of careers, including being a park ranger and working in several New South Wales government departments.

Related Topics:
Macksville, New South Wales - Gumbaynggir

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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 in 1991. In 1995, he became the executive director of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council. He continued in this position until 2000.

Related Topics:
1990 - ATSIC - Australian Democrats - 1991 - 1995 - New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council - 2000

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During 1997-98 Ridgeway served as the state policy convener for the New South Wales Branch of the Democrats. He was subsequently selected in the first position on the Democrats' Senate ticket at the 1998 election. This led to him becoming only the second Aboriginal member of an Australian parliament, after Neville Bonner.

Related Topics:
1997 - 98 - 1998 election - Neville Bonner

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Ridgeway has served on a number of parliamentary and senate committees. In March, 2001, he addressed the United Nations Special Session on Racism. He also attended the World Conference Against Racism in South Africa in the same year.

Related Topics:
March - 2001 - United Nations - South Africa

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In April 2001, Ridgeway was appointed deputy leader of the Democrats, after Natasha Stott Despoja toppled Meg Lees in a leadership spill.

Related Topics:
April - 2001 - Natasha Stott Despoja - Meg Lees

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Ridgeway continued as deputy leader until August 2002, when along with fellow senators John Cherry, Meg Lees and Andrew Murray, he succeeded in forcing Stott Despoja to resign. It was widely tipped that he would succeed her as leader. However, the media did not portray the spill kindly, labelling them the 'Gang of Four'.

Related Topics:
August - 2002 - John Cherry - Andrew Murray

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Ridgeway took over as interim leader, and nominated for the permanent leadership, being expected to win. At the last minute, Brian Greig lodged a nomination in protest at Ridgeway's treatment of Stott Despoja. In a surprise result, the majority of the party membership voted for Greig.

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After Ridgeway's defeat in the 2002 leadership ballot, Ridgeway lost his position as deputy leader, being replaced by Lyn Allison. He remained in the Senate, being particularly active on issues of indigenous affairs and reconciliation. He lost his seat in the 2004 election, along with Cherry, Lees (who had since left the party), and Brian Greig, another Democrat senator. His term expired on 30 June, 2005.

Related Topics:
2002 - Lyn Allison - 2004 election - Brian Greig - 30 June - 2005

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