The Honourable
Ludwig Keke
MP
Keke in 2016
Ambassador of Nauru to Taiwan
In office
2007–2016
Preceded byPosition established
Succeeded byChitra Jeremiah
Speaker of the Parliament of Nauru
In office
12 December 1998 – 12 April 2000
Preceded byKennan Adeang
Succeeded byLudwig Scotty
Member of the Nauruan Parliament
for Yaren
In office
1968–1972
In office
1989–1995
In office
1997–2000
Personal details
Born
Ludwig Dowong

c. 1935 (age 88–89)
Nauru
Spouse
Ann Elizabeth Buissink
​
​
(m. 1969)​
Children2, including Kieren
Alma mater

Ludwig Dowong Keke (born Ludwig Dowong; born c. 1935) is a Nauruan politician, diplomat, and dentist. Keke was Nauru's first university graduate. He worked as a dentist in Australia before returning to Nauru to enter politics by 1967, first being elected to the Constitutional Convention, and then to the Legislative Assembly. He served in the parliament until 1972. After 1977, he served as a dental officer in Western Australia. He then served as a dental officer for the South Pacific Commission in 1981. He returned to Nauru and served three terms in the parliament between 1986 and 2000, serving as speaker of parliament in his final term. By 2004, he was a diplomat to Fiji, and in 2007 he became the first Nauruan ambassador to Taiwan. He served in that capacity until 2016.

Early life and education

Ludwig Dowong was born around 1935. During World War II, during the Japanese occupation of Nauru, Dowong was one of the Nauruans taken to the Truk Islands. Dowong received a secondary education in Sydney, Australia.[1] In 1950, Dowong began attending Waverley College in Sydney.[2] He graduated with the class of 1954.[3] He went on to graduate from the Central Medical School in Suva, Fiji, with a dental surgery diploma.[4] In 1961, he worked as an assistant dental officer in Brisbane. He then studied at Queensland University, where he later graduated with a Bachelor of Dental Science.[1][5] Dowong was Nauru's first university graduate.[6] By 1966, Dowong begun working as a dentist in Brisbane.[7] By 1977, he had earned a Diploma of Dental Public Health from the University of Otago in New Zealand.[4][5]

Career

By 1967, Ludwig Dowong had returned to Nauru. In 1967, he was elected to the Constitutional Convention.[7] After independence, Ludwig Dowong had taken his father's surname, Keke.[3] In 1968, Keke was elected to the Nauruan Legislative Assembly, representing the Yaren Constituency. In the election, he defeated the first female parliamentary candidate in Nauru, his sister Liebon Sunshine Keke.[8] Keke was re-elected to the Parliament of Nauru in the 1971 election.[9] Keke was defeated by Alfred Derangdedage Dick in a by-election in June 1972.[10]

On 30 September 1977, Keke was registered as a dentist in Western Australia.[5] He was later appointed as Regional Dental Officer with the Western Australian Department of Health. In 1981, Keke was appointed as Dental Public Health Officer with the South Pacific Commission. He was the first Nauruan to hold the position.[4]

Keke unsuccessfully ran for the Yaren parliamentary seat in the 1986 and 1987 elections.[11][12] Keke was elected in the 1989 election, and re-elected in the 1992 election.[13][14] Keke was defeated in his attempt at re-election in the 1995 election.[15] He was successfully re-elected in the 1997 election.[16] Keke had served as deputy speaker of the parliament. He served as speaker of parliament 12 December 1998 to 12 April 2000.[17]

By 2004, Keke was serving as High Commissioner of Nauru to Fiji.[18] In 2007, Keke became the first ambassador of Nauru to Taiwan. He presented his credentials to Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian on 7 March.[19] On 8 April 2016, Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou awarded Keke with the Order of Brilliant Star.[20] Keke was succeeded by Chitra Jeremiah in July of that year.[21]

Personal life

Ludwig Keke's brother, Leo Keke, was the first lawyer from Nauru.[6] On 19 July 1969, Keke married Ann Elizabeth Buissink, an Australian woman of Dutch origin.[22][23] Together they have two sons, Kristian and Kieren. Kieren Keke is also a Nauruan politician, who served as foreign minister. Kristian is a senior pilot at All Nippon Airways.[24]

References

  1. 1 2 Dowong, Ludwig (1 May 1962). "Nauru Needs Rehabilition Not Resettlement". Pacific Islands Monthly (10): 47. Archived from the original on 6 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  2. ↑ "First Year II" (PDF). The Waverlian (1): 11–12. May 1950. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  3. 1 2 Keke, Ludwig Dowong (28 March 2014). "Memories of Menzies 1954" (PDF). Wavelength (21): 24. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "People". Pacific Islands Monthly (10): 35–36. 1 August 1981. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Forbes, P. M. (4 September 1986). "List of Registered Dentists, 1986" (PDF). Government Gazette of Western Australia (103): 17. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 September 2021.
  6. 1 2 "People". Pacific Islands Monthly (4): 8. 1 April 1974. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  7. 1 2 Powles, Michael (5 August 2011). "Dr Ludwig Keke recalls Hammer deRoburt". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  8. ↑ Lauti, Alamanda Roland; Fraenkel, Jon (2007). "Developing a More Facilitating Environment for Women's Political Participation in Nauru" (PDF). Pacific Islands Forum. pp. 121–122. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 March 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  9. ↑ Ayers, J. R. (25 January 1971). "DECLARATION OF POLL" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (6): 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  10. ↑ Connell, H. B. (7 June 1972). "DECLARATION OF POLL" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (26): 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
  11. ↑ Mani, V. S. (8 December 1986). "DECLARATION OF ELECTION" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (88): 6. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  12. ↑ Mani, V. S. (26 January 1987). "ELECTORAL ACT 1965-1973" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (9): 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  13. ↑ Mani, V. S. (9 December 1989). "GENERAL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION 1989" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (72): 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  14. ↑ Emiu, K. Deouri (16 November 1992). "GENERAL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION 1992" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (77): 8. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  15. ↑ Emiu, Kelly D. (20 November 1995). "ELECTORAL ACT 1965-1992" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (66): 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  16. ↑ Itsimaera, Angie (10 February 1997). "GENERAL PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION 1997" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (16): 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  17. ↑ Blair, Jonny (6 August 2019). "Plaque entitled "Speakers of Parliament" in Yaren, Nauru, in the photo album Nauru: Yaren, The Capital City". Flickr. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  18. ↑ "Republic of Nauru Permanent Mission to the United Nations". United Nations. Archived from the original on 29 August 2004. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  19. ↑ "Nauru Ambassador Ludwig D. Keke Presents Credentials to President Chen Shui-bian". Office of the President of China (Taiwan). 7 March 2007. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  20. ↑ "Amb Keke receives Taiwan medal for contributions to bilateral relations" (PDF). Nauru Bulletin (5): 6. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 July 2022.
  21. ↑ "President Tsai receives credentials from new Nauru Ambassador to the ROC Chitra Jeremiah". Office of the President of China (Taiwan). 27 July 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  22. ↑ Weston, Q. V. L. (4 August 1969). "BIRTHS, DEATHS & MARRIAGES ORDINANCE 1956-1962" (PDF). Republic of Nauru Government Gazette (30): 3. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  23. ↑ "Interview with Nauru Ambassador Ludwig Keke and Mme Ann Keke". Radio Taiwan International. 26 June 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  24. ↑ "Nauru Ambassador Ludwig Keke and Mme Ann Keke share experiences". Radio Taiwan International. 3 July 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
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