Ernie Dingo

Ernie Dingo was born on the 31st July, 1956 on Bullardoo Station in Western Australia.

Bullardoo is a sheep station near the Murchison River. He is Wadjarri/Yamatji. Wadjarri is his tongue, his language which he still speaks and Yamitji is his people/nation.

He is a ‘fresh water’ man from fresh water country. Ernie got his surname Dingo from his grandfather Dingo Jim, who was a dogger, a dingo trapper. On his death in 1948, Dingo Jim’s name was changed by white authorities to Jim Dingo. So the Dingo surname only came into being in 1948.

Ernie’s tribal name in ‘OONDAMOOROO’. OONDA means shield, and MOOROO the particular carvings/pattern on the shield. He became a performer when the basketball team he played with became a dance troupe called Middar. From there he was offered his first acting role a co-lead actor, playing ‘Yagan’ in the Jack Davis play ‘Kullark’ in 1979.

Since then, he has worked nationally and internationally in television, film and theatre and won numerous awards and respect from his peers, and all Australians alike.

Awards:

1997 Voted a ‘NATIONAL LIVING TREASURE’ in SMH & ABC radio poll
1994, voted ‘NATIONAL ABORIGINAL OF THE YEAR’, N.S.W., W.A. By NAIDOC, and ‘Personality of the Year’ by the Aust Caption Centre.
1990, ‘ORDER OF AUSTRALIA’
‘BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA’ for ‘A WALTZ THROUGH THE HILLS’ 30th A.F.I. Awards.
Nominated for ‘BEYOND TELEVISION BEST ACTOR AWARD’ 1994 A.F.I. Awards.
Nominated for ‘BEST ACTOR IN A TELEVISION DRAMA’ for ‘TUDAWALI’ 29th A.F.I. Awards.
Accepted ‘SPECIAL JURY PRIZE’ for ‘TUDAWALI’ BANFF Television Festival in Canada.
Ernie also fronted the successful ‘See Australia’ advertising campaign for 3 years.