Our Founder
Ernie Bridge (1936-2013)
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Ernie Bridge, AM OAM CiTWA JP, born near Halls Creek (Kimberley region) in Western Australia (WA), was the first Indigenous person elected to the WA Parliament in 1980 as the Labor Member for the Kimberley region. He held several WA Government Ministerial positions including Water Resources, Aboriginal Affairs, North West, Small Business and Agriculture. He also held the distinction of being the first Indigenous person to be appointed a Minister of the Crown in any Parliament in Australia. He later became an Independent Member for the Kimberley.
He always considered himself to be a community leader with a responsibility to be an ‘exemplar’ or role model and had an ability to engender goodwill and trust.
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Years of working with businesses and communities, in Local and State Governments, taught Mr Bridge the importance of having the ‘right attitude’, fostering confidence and trust. He was able to draw on his experience both as Shire President in a predominantly Aboriginal electorate and his years as a WA Government Minister, to develop strong relationships with key-stakeholders. It was also his reputation and previous stature in Government and the wider community that engendered trust and confidence.
Ernie Bridge was raised knowing it was important to increase the prosperity of the Aboriginal community
He provided leadership through motivating and inspiring others to follow his example. He believed as a leader he had a responsibility to spend time with people and listen to them and it was important to give people a purpose and a challenge.
Ernie had a strong spirit, a no-nonsense demeanor, a passion for positive change and a love of country music. These were the foundations that stayed with him through 21 years in politics and a lifetime involvement in Aboriginal Affairs.
He was a pioneer and adventurer. In 1997 he established Unity of First People of Australia and in 2001 he retired from politics.
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."