Austin Bernicke (died 13 January 1977) was a

Nauru Nauru ( or ; na, Naoero), officially the Republic of Nauru ( na, Repubrikin Naoero) and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country and microstate in Oceania, in the Central Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Ki ...

an politician. He was a member of the first

Local Government Council Local may refer to: Geography and transportation * Local (train), a train serving local traffic demand * Local, Missouri, a community in the United States * Local government, a form of public administration, usually the lowest tier of administrat ...

in 1951, then a member of

Parliament In modern politics, and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

after it was established in 1966, serving until his death in 1977. He also served as a cabinet minister from 1968 until 1976.

Biography

Bernicke was a member of the Eamwitmwit tribe. He became the first Nauruan to attend university when he began studying medicine at Queen's College at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb nor ...

. He returned to Nauru to work as a pathologist, later becoming superintendent of Nauru Hospital. Bernicke contested the first elections to the Local Government Council in 1951 and was elected from the Denigomodu, Nibok, Uaboe and Baiti constituency.Nancy Viviani (1970)
Nauru: Phosphate and Political Progress
', Australian National University Press He later became the council's secretary. In

1966 Events January * January 1 – In a coup, Colonel Jean-Bédel Bokassa takes over as military ruler of the Central African Republic, ousting President David Dacko. * January 3 – 1966 Upper Voltan coup d'état: President Maurice Yaméogo i ...

Bernicke was elected to the new Legislative Council in the Buada Constituency. He was also elected to the

Constitutional Convention Constitutional convention may refer to: * Constitutional convention (political custom), an informal and uncodified procedural agreement *Constitutional convention (political meeting), a meeting of delegates to adopt a new constitution or revise an e ...

the following year and was elected Deputy Chairman of the body. After being re-elected to a renamed Legislative Assembly in

1968 The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide. Events January–February * January 5 – "Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. * Januar ...

, he was nominated as a candidate for the presidency, but declined. However, he was elected to the Council of State, becoming Minister for Health and Education. The Legislative Assembly became Parliament upon independence later in the year. Bernicke was re-elected in

1971 * The year 1971 had three partial solar eclipses ( February 25, July 22 and August 20) and two total lunar eclipses (February 10, and August 6). The world population increased by 2.1% this year, the highest increase in history. Events Ja ...

and

1973 Events January * January 1 - The United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and Denmark enter the European Economic Community, which later becomes the European Union. * January 15 – Vietnam War: Citing progress in peace negotiations, U.S. ...

, retaining his ministerial portfolio following both elections.DeRobert back as President
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', February 1971, p30Austin Bernicke dead
''Pacific Islands Monthly'', March 1977, p17 Although he was re-elected again in

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...

, he was excluded from the new cabinet. He died in January 1977 at the age of 68. His grandson Shadlog Bernicke later became an MP.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bernicke, Austin University of Melbourne alumni Pathologists Members of the Parliament of Nauru Government ministers of Nauru 1977 deaths Nauruan physicians Eamwitmwit people 20th-century Nauruan politicians