Robyn Ridgeway

Robyn Ridgeway is descended is from NSW North coast people. Her mother was a Thungutti woman, her father a Worimi man. She worked at Tranby Aboriginal College, teaching Aboriginal Studies before moving to TAFE where she teaches Aboriginal Studies at both a Diploma and HSC level. Robyn is involved with several Aboriginal Committees with TAFE as well as the local Community.

"Cookie" connection

Heather Goodall on Kevin Cook's 70th birthday:

The photographs of Cookie’s 70th birthday in 2009 tell a great deal about his life. They all show Judy Chester beside him. Cookie is sitting in a wheelchair, older of course and more frail, but around him as always are the family, mates and campaigners who had stood shoulder to shoulder with him in the exciting process of making changes happen.

His aunty Kit is sitting on one side and on the other side is Sylvia Scott, long time friend of both Judy and Cookie. Standing next to Cookie are Joe Owens, presenting Cookie with the last remaining Life Membership badge of the Builders Labourers’ Federation and Pat Geraghty, towering leader of the Maritime Union and a friend from way back, talking with Cookie about memories of Alf Clint and then all the times with Cookie at helm of the Co-operative.

The Tranby people were there, along with those others who have shared Cookie’s vision of education for change: Brian Doolan, Linda Burney, Chrissy Kerr, Robyn Ridgeway and Derek Mortimer.

The old friends from the early land rights days: Meredith Burgmann, Nadia Wheatley, Rod Pickette.

And those stalwart unionists – Hal Alexander, Russ Herman and Tony O'Bierne.

There are close friends: Paul Torzillo, Janny Ely (Judy’s sister) and her husband Tommy, Norma Walford and Greta North.