AustLit

Les Ridgeway is a Worimi elder from the mid-North coast of New South Wales. He left school at fourteen years of age to become a farm labourer. He later became the assistant manager of Murrin Bridge Reserve. In the 1970s he met Charles Perkins who created a position for him in the newly established Department of Aboriginal Affairs.

Les was one of only three Aboriginal people in New South Wales to manage a mission station. He continues to fight for the rights of Aboriginal people across Australia, particularly in relation to the return of 'stolen wages' in NSW.