Austin Bernicke

Bernicke was a member of the Eamwitmwit tribe.[1] He became the first Nauruan to attend university when he began studying medicine at Queen's College at the University of Melbourne.[2] He returned to Nauru to work as a pathologist, later becoming superintendent of Nauru Hospital.[3] Bernicke contested the first elections to the Local Government Council in 1951 and was elected from the Denigomodu, Nibok, Uaboe and Baiti constituency.[4] He later became the council's secretary.[4]

In 1966 Bernicke was elected to the new Legislative Council in the Buada Constituency.[4] He was also elected to the Constitutional Convention the following year and was elected Deputy Chairman of the body.[4] After being re-elected to a renamed Legislative Assembly in 1968, 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.[5] The Legislative Assembly became Parliament upon independence later in the year.

Bernicke was re-elected in 1971 and 1973, retaining his ministerial portfolio following both elections.[6][7] Although he was re-elected again in 1976, he was excluded from the new cabinet.[7] He died in January 1977 at the age of 68.[7] His grandson Shadlog Bernicke later became an MP.