Background
Kilgariff was born in Adelaide, South Australia, and in 1929 arrived in Alice Springs (then called Stuart) with his family on one of the first Ghan trains from Adelaide.
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Bernie Kilgariff
Edit Profilemember of the Australian Senate
Education
He attended the Hartley Street School, and in 1938, the local Catholic school.
Career
His first job was building runways for the fledgling Connellan Airways. On 17 June 1943, Kilgariff enlisted in the Australian Army and served overseas. At the time of his discharge on 11 September 1946, he was a Sergeant in the 2/5th Australian Infantry Battalion.
In 1960, he was approached by the Administrator of the Northern Territory with regard to joining the Northern Territory Legislative Council.
Kilgariff agreed and was elected, beginning a long political career. In 1974, the Legislative Council became the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly.
Kilgariff was elected to the Assembly for Alice Springs, and was named the first Speaker of the Assembly. He resigned on 16 July 1975 to become Deputy Majority Leader (equivalent to a deputy premier in the states).
Shortly after that, in December 1975, he resigned as Deputy Majority Leader and from the Assembly in order to run for one of two newly created seats in the Australian Senate for the Northern Territory in the 1975 federal election.
Kilgariff, along with Ted Robertson (ALP) were elected as the Northern Territory"s first Senators.
Achievements
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Kilgariff was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in the 1989 Queen"s Birthday for continued service to the Northern Territory through the Northern Territory Landcare Council, the Anti-Rabbit Research Foundation, the Cattleman"s Association, the Australia Day Council and Street John Ambulance. In the 1996 Queen"s Birthday, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (Department of Administration and Management). In 2001, he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society through parliament.
Politics
Kilgariff was one of the founders of the Country Liberal Party, an independent political party consisting of Country Party and Liberal Party members, to field candidates at the 1974 Legislative Council elections.
Membership
He was one of the founders of the Country Liberal Party and served as a member of the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly which included a stint as Deputy Majority Leader before being elected to the Australian Senate. After the Second World War, Kilgariff became involved in community service, and was a member of the Northern Territory Housing Commission for thirteen years.
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Born
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Died
April 13, 2010 (aged 86) -
Nationality
Australia -
Political Party
Country Liberal Party
Awards
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Centenary Medal Centenary Medal; Order of Australia; Member of the Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, to recognise Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service.The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, to recognise Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service.