Ernie Bridge

Ernest Francis Bridge, AM (15 December 193631 March 2013 ) was an Australian parliamentarian and country music singer. He was a member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1980 to 2001, representing the electorate of Kimberley, first as a Labor Party representative (1980–1996) and then as a Labor Independent MP (1996–2001). He was the first indigenous Australian to be a Cabinet minister in any Australian government.

Biography Bridge was born in Halls Creek; among his ancestors was First Fleet convict Matthew James Everingham. He was a pastoralist and businessman prior to entering politics, and was also a founding member of the Aboriginal Lands Trust in 1972. He served on the Halls Creek council from 1962 to 1979.

At age 4, a visiting German Pallottine priest baptised him at the Catholic mission in Balgo, making him the first person to be baptised there.

Political career Bridge contested the marginal seat of Kimberley for the Labor Party at the 1980 state election and won, defeating incumbent Liberal Alan Ridge, thus becoming the first Aboriginal member of the WA parliament.

Bridge promoted the concept of a water pipeline from the Fitzroy River to Perth. He later went on to promote a larger scale scheme including piping water from northern Queensland rivers to the south-eastern Australian cities.

In March 2013, Bridge sued a number of parties for damages after being diagnosed with several asbestos-related conditions including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and pleural disease. Bridge said he had been exposed to asbestos fibre and dust while fulfilling his ministerial duties in the 1980s, and was suing the Western Australian government, the Shire of Ashburton, CSR Limited, Midalco, Gina Rinehart's company Hancock Prospecting and Angela Bennett's Wright Prospecting.

He was married to Mavis Bridge from 1960 until her death in March 2009 and had two daughters and two sons.

Honours On 13 June 1993, Bridge received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) "in recognition of service to the WA Parliament and to Aboriginal Affairs."

On 1 January 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for "service to the parliament and Aboriginal affairs".

On 11 June 2012, he was named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for "service to the Indigenous community, particularly through support for health management programs, and to the Parliament of Western Australia."

Discography

Sings Kimberly Favourites (EMI Custom, 1979) "Helicopter Ringer" (EMI Custom, 1980) Helicopter Ringer (EMI Custom, 1980) Live at the Concert Hall (EMI, 1982) Signs It Australian (EMI, 1983) Great Australian Dream (1990)

Ernie and Noel Bridge 200 Years Ago (1994)