Ernest ‘Ernie’ Ashley Dingo
Ernest ‘Ernie’ Dingo is a well known Aboriginal television presenter and actor and is especially known for his role in the popular Australian series “The Great Outdoors”.
Biography:
Born at 7:10 AM on the 31st of July, 1956 in a cattle station in remote Western Australia, he was given an English name; Ernest Ashley Dingo (After his grandfather, Jimmie Dingo) and a traditional Aboriginal name; Oondamooroo (“Oonda” meaning shield and “Mooroo” referring to the particular patterns on the shield). Ernie is from of the Yamajti tribe found in Murchison, a region of Western Australia and is able to speak his native language, Wadjarri.
After showing his skill in oral traditions of his tribe, Ernie was moved away from his family at the age of 12 to Mullewa where he attended Prospect Primary and then Geraldton High. When he was 17 years old Ernie he began his apprenticeship as a sign writer. As time progressed Ernie joined a local basketball team and in 1978 his career in song and dance began as his team formed a Middar Aboriginal Dance Theatre. He soon discovered a liking for acting as he took on various roles in plays by Western Australia Aboriginal playwright Jack Davis, for example “The Dreamers”.
Ernie’s first appearance on television in 1985 in the miniseries “Cowra Breakout” (1984) and subsequently gained popularity in the comedy show “Fast Forward” (1989-1893). Some of his first major screen roles were in films – “Tudawali” (1985), Fringe Dweller (1986) and “State of Shock” (1989) – all of which sympathetically dealt with problems of racism. Ernie received his very first reward in 1988” at the Banff Television Festival in Canada. He was awarded the Special Jury Prize for his role in “Tudawali’ where he plays one of the first Aboriginal screen actors, Robert Tudawali.
In 1993 Ernie became a reporter in the popular travel series “The Great Outdoors” and by 2001 Ernie became national celebrity. Ernie’s Aboriginal background has had a major effect on his acting aspect of his life.
“Dingo draws on traditional and contemporary aspects of his native culture to shape his work as an Aboriginal actor because such work frequently also requires him to be a consultant, cultural mediator, co-writer and translator. Although taking roles scripted specifically for an Aboriginal actor by white writers and directors while establishing his career, Dingo has since worked consistently to popularize Aboriginal perspectives on Australian life…… Dingo has since worked consistently to popularize Aboriginal perspectives on Australian life.” –
Having raised mainstream awareness and understanding to Aboriginal culture he received his A.M. (Member of the Order of Australia) for his services to the Arts in 1991.
In 1989 he married Sally Butler, a sales representative from Tasmania, and they raised a quite extended family which has consisted of; Ernie (Father), Sally (Mother), Carllen (Ernie's oldest daughter whom he fathered when he was 18), Zoe (Also Ernie’s daughter. She was conceived in 1988 during a brief relationship), Jurra (Carllen’s son) and Willera (Adopted). Sally has written two books about her husband and their family; “Ernie Dingo: King of the Kids” and “Dingo, The Story of our Mob”.
In 2010 two women from New South Wales and Victoria claimed to have been in affairs with Ernie. It was reported that Ernie and Sally were living in an open marriage for the sake of their children however this statement was found to be false and was retracted. In August 2010 another scandal plagued Ernie as it was announced by W.A police that they had opened an investigation into reports of child abuse by Ernie Dingo. He was accused of slapping and verbally abusing an 11 year old boy at Carnarvon Primary School. Ernie denied the claims and stated: "I deny it, but until there is an outcome I can't really talk about it." A trial held on the 3rd of February, 2011 a trial was held in Carnarvon and on April the 18th after a meditation session all charges against Ernie were dropped and the case was formally dismissed.
