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. Aden Ridgeway This photograph of a member of the Parliament of Australia is held under Crown copyright. ... Aden Ridgeway This photograph of a member of the Parliament of Australia is held under Crown copyright. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... Australian Senate chamber Entrance to the Senate The Senate is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Australia. ... Emblems: Floral - Waratah (Telopea Speciosissima); Bird - Kookaburra (Dacelo Gigas); Animal - Platypus (Ornithorhynchus Anatinus); Fish - Blue Groper (Achoerodus Viridis) Motto: Orta Recens Quam Pura Nites (Newly Risen, How Brightly You Shine) Slogan or Nickname: First State, Premier State Other Australian states and territories Capital Sydney Government Const. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Australian Democrats (in regular parlance, just the Democrats), is an Australian social liberal party formed in 1977 from the earlier Australia Party by Don Chipp, who left the Liberal Party of Australia to do so. ... Australian Aborigines are the main indigenous people of Australia. ... Parliament House Canberra: The main entrance and the flag The Parliament of Australia is the legislative branch of Australia. ...

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. Macksville is a small town in New South Wales, Australia, halfway between Sydney and Brisbane, with a population of around 3,000. ...

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. This article is about the year. ... The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) (1990–2004) was the Australian Government body through which aboriginal Australians were formally involved in the processes of government affecting their lives. ... The Australian Democrats (in regular parlance, just the Democrats), is an Australian social liberal party formed in 1977 from the earlier Australia Party by Don Chipp, who left the Liberal Party of Australia to do so. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year 2000. ...

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. 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... Legislative elections were held in Australia on 3 October 1998. ... Neville Bonner (28 March 1922 - 5 February 1999), Australian politician, was the first indigenous Australian to be elected to the Parliament of Australia. ...

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. 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... United Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ...

In April 2001, Ridgeway was elected deputy leader of the Democrats, after Natasha Stott Despoja toppled Meg Lees in a leadership spill. 2001: A Space Odyssey. ... Natasha Stott Despoja Natasha Jessica Stott Despoja (born 9 September 1969), Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate for South Australia since November 1995. ... Meg Lees Meg Heather Lees (born October 19, 1948) has been the founder and sole representative of the Australian Progressive Alliance in the Australian Senate since 2003, representing the state of South Australia. ...

Ridgeway continued as deputy leader until August 2002, when along with fellow senators John Cherry, Lyn Allison 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'. For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Image:JohnCherry. ... Lyn Allison Lynette Fay Lyn Allison (born 21 October 1946), has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1996, representing the state of Victoria. ... Andrew Murray may refer to: Andrew Moray, commonly referred to as Andrew Murray, Guardian of Scotland during 13th century; key military and political leader of the Scots during the Scottish Wars of Independence Andrew Murray (botanist) (1812–1878), Scottish botanist Andrew Murray (minister) (1828–1917), South African minister of religion...

Ridgeway was expected to be appointed interim leader however, in a surprise decision, the party's National Executive installed Brian Greig as interim leader due to the role Ridgeway played in forcing the resignation of Stott Despoja. Ridgeway did not contest the subsequent leadership ballot, at which Andrew Bartlett defeated Brian Greig. Brian Greig Brian Andrew Greig (born February 22, Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1999, representing the state of Western Australia. ... Andrew Bartlett Andrew John Julian Bartlett (born 4 August 1964), Australian politician, has been a member of the Australian Senate for the state of Queensland since 1997, representing the Australian Democrats, of which he is Deputy Leader and Party Whip. ... Brian Greig Brian Andrew Greig (born February 22, Australian politician, has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1999, representing the state of Western Australia. ...

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 Greig. His term expired on 30 June 2005. For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Lyn Allison Lynette Fay Lyn Allison (born 21 October 1946), has been an Australian Democrats member of the Australian Senate since July 1996, representing the state of Victoria. ... Legislative elections were held in Australia on 9 October 2004. ... June 30 is the 181st day of the year (182nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 184 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In May 2006, Ridgeway was selected as the new host of ABC TV's Message Stick program. 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...