A Tribute to Hon Alan Ridge (1934-2026)

Alan Ridge who has died on 6^th March aged 91, had the distinction of winning the long-term Labor seat of Kimberley for the Liberal Party, holding it for 12 years and serving as a loyal and effective Minister in Sir Charles Court’s government for six years from 1974 until his defeat in 1980.

Keith Alan Ridge was born in Perth in 1934, his father being a miner and salesman. His early schooling was in Morawa and Mount Magnet before completing his education at John Forrest High School.  Alan worked as a clerk and did 1950s National Service and CMF training before moving to Quairading in 1957 as the Assistant Secretary to the Road Board (deputy Shire CEO in today’s terms).  In 1959 he moved to Derby as the Shire Clerk (CEO) of West Kimberley, a notable achievement for a 25-year-old.

At the 1968 State election Alan Ridge was endorsed by the Liberal Party to contest Kimberley, a safe ALP seat since 1924, and with a Labor margin of 61.6%.  Strong campaigning that energised the new aspirational community of Kununurra, and attracted some hitherto-ignored Aboriginal voters, saw Alan defeat a stale Labor incumbent by 1159 votes to 1060, 52.2%.  His win in Kimberley helped re-elect the Brand Government by offsetting ALP gains in several metropolitan seats.

In 1971 the ALP expected to regain Kimberley, but Alan Ridge achieved a 10.4% swing to win by over 600 votes as Labor narrowly won the election overall.  His success helped Bill Withers win a North Province seat (Kimberley plus Pilbara) in the Legislative Council at the same election, consolidating the Liberal breakthrough in the North West.

In this era there was only a rudimentary branch structure in Kimberley, and the Kalgoorlie North Division was not created until 1974.  This placed a great deal of pressure on Liberal candidates.  Nonetheless at the 1974 state election Alan won a third term in Kimberley with 58.7%, with concurrent Liberal victories in the other North Province seat and in the adjacent district of Pilbara – the north was blue for the first time since the 1900s.

The 1974 election was a convincing win for Sir Charles Court, and Alan Ridge became the youngest member of Cabinet, as Minister for Lands and Forests, also taking on Tourism in 1975.  From 1974 until 1980 he was Chairman of the Rottnest Island Board.  In 1977-78 he was Minister for Health and Community Welfare and was Minister for Housing 1978-80.

Before 1983 WA Aboriginal citizens were not subject to compulsory enrolment, so the ALP made a massive effort to enrol them in support of a strong Indigenous candidate, Ernie Bridge, at the 1977 election.  There was a bitter campaign in Kimberley with allegations of manipulation of non-literate voters, and of voter suppression.  Alan held Kimberley in 1977 by 93 votes but had to face a Court of Disputed Returns that ordered a re-election.

At the re-election in December 1977 Alan Ridge won Kimberley for the 5^th time, with a majority of around 200 votes.  However, enrolments had increased by 40% at the 1980 election, when as sadly expected he was defeated with Ernie Bridge gaining an absolute majority of 56.1%.  

After politics Alan ran an import/export business in Balcatta and was part-owner of a hotel in Cue, eventually retiring to Port Bouvard to enjoy golf, fishing and boating.  He had every reason to be proud of his pioneering electoral successes for the Liberal Party in the north of our State and of his ministerial service across six portfolios in the admired and successful government of Sir Charles Court.

Alan and Fay Ridge were married for 68 years.  We express our sympathy to Mrs Fay Ridge, to daughters Alison, Susan and Julie and their families.