Ernest Riordan

Riordan was born at Mareeba, Queensland, to parents William Riordan and his wife Mary (née Walsh) and was educated at state schools in both Chillagoe and Cairns. When he left school he worked as a meatworker, miner and cane-cutter. He spent about eight years working on the wharves in Bowen, ending up as secretary of the Waterside Workers' Federation. ==Political career==

Riordan first entered politics as an alderman on the Town of Bowen council. In March 1936, the member for the state seat of Bowen, Charles Collins, died and a by-election was held on the 20 June of that year. Riordan was nominated as the Labor Party candidate and went on to win the seat over John Smith of the Country Party. After losing his seat, Riordan found work as a field officer for the State Employment Council and in 1947 he was the private secretary to his nephew, Bill Riordan, who was the Minister for the Navy in the Second Chifley Ministry. At the 1950 state election, Riordan stood for the reincarnated seat of Flinders, defeating the Country Party candidate, Mr G. H. Stuart by 297 votes. He held the seat unopposed in 1953, and remained the member until his death the next year. During his time in Parliament, Riordan was Temporary Chairman of Committees on four occasions between 1941 and 1952, Government Whip from 17 December 1942 until 14 April 1944, and Secretary for Mines and Immigration from 10 March 1952 until his death. ==Personal life==

On 5 May 1930, Collins married Violet Alice Locke (died 1993), and together had ten daughters. He was accorded a state funeral which was held on 11 December 1954 at St. Stephen's Cathedral and proceeded to the Lutwyche Cemetery. ==References==