Aden Ridgeway (b. 1962), was the only Aboriginal member of Federal Parliament during his time in office. He became the Deputy Leader of the Australian Democrats and served as a a senator for New South Wales from 1999, when he made his stirring first speech calling for national reconciliation to 2005. A man of the Gumbayynggir people, brought up by his mother, aunts and grandmother, he was a regional councillor for the ATSIC Sydney region and Executive Director of the NSW Aboriginal Land Council before he was elected to the Senate. Some Aboriginal leaders have criticised Ridgeway's willingness to negotiate on Aboriginal issues. However, many others have welcomed the politically moderate tactics he has adopted to keep the wheels of the reconciliation debate in motion.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the artist 2005
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
Accession number: 2005.73
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Juno Gemes (19 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
Portraits from The Movement is the first comprehensive survey of photographs from the Juno Gemes archive, which has supported the Aboriginal struggle for justice in Australia from 1978 to the present day.
Explore portraiture and come face to face with Australian identity, history, culture, creativity and diversity.
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