Ernest Ridding

Ernest 'Ernie' Ridding (1927-2001) was an eccentric resident of Glebe, NSW. He was well-known locally as 'The Fridge Man' on account of his practice of repairing old refrigerators and donating them to the poor.

During his early life, Ridding spent time in Goulburn's Kenmore Psychiatric Hospital, after which he adopted the title "Ernest Ridding, GKN LLM" ("Graduate of Kenmore Nuthouse, Legally and Lawfully Mad"). In his final years, Ridding moved to a Marrickville nursing home. [ [http://libapp.sl.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/spydus/ENQ/PM/FULL1?414287,I State Library of NSW: Ernest Ridding at Rosedale Nursing Home, Marrickville, 2001] ]

Ridding's life was documented in an exhibition on Sydney's eccentric residents. [ [http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/exhibitions/eccentrics/7.cfm State Library of NSW::SYDNEYeccentrics] ] In September 2007, Ridding's community service was honoured in the unveiling of a plaque, by Governor of New South Wales Marie Bashir, at the Glebe Community Garden, with the text: "In giving, he inspires us to give." [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/an-eccentric-pastime-offers-hope/2007/09/18/1189881513649.html The Sydney Morning Herald: An eccentric pastime offers hope] ]

References