Ernest Ridding

Who was Ernest Ridding?

Ernest 'Ernie' Ridding was an eccentric resident of Glebe, NSW. He was well-known locally as 'The Fridge Man' on account of his practice of repairing old refrigerators and donating them to the poor.

During his early life, Ridding spent time in Goulburn's Kenmore Psychiatric Hospital, after which he adopted the title "Ernest Ridding, GKN LLM". In his final years, Ridding moved to a Marrickville nursing home.

Ridding's life was documented in an exhibition on Sydney's eccentric residents. In September 2007, Ridding's community service was honoured in the unveiling of a plaque, by Governor of New South Wales Marie Bashir, at the Glebe Community Garden, with the text: "In giving, he inspires us to give."