Bertrand Cadart was born on 30 April 1948 in Amiens, France. He moved to Australia in 1972 and worked at the ABC as an on-air presenter for Radio Australia’s French-language programs.
In 1976, Bertrand decided to improve Australia’s motorcycling experience. He designed and launched a company called La Parisienne to sell the clever and effective fairings. La Parisienne’s frog logo quickly became well-known, and its fairings were fitted to a variety of bikes. Bertrand modified a fleet of Kawasaki Z1000s to create the motorcycles that appear in Mad Max. The film’s director, George Miller, wasn’t able to pay him for his work because production funds were low. He instead offered him an on-screen role as an intellectually-challenged member of the Toecutter’s gang.
Bertrand moved to Bicheno, Tasmania in 2000 after falling in love with the town during a visit.
He wanted to get involved in civic life, so he stood for the
local council and was subsequently elected. In 2007, Bertrand was elected Mayor
of Glamorgan Spring Bay, which became Australia’s first motorcycle-friendly
municipality during his tenure. He created a botanic garden and a boules pitch
for locals, and appeared on European TV shows about Tasmania as well.
He also fostered close relations with New Caledonia (where he’d served as a French Marine). He was awarded with the insignia of a Knight of the National Order of Merit for his community work by the French government – one of just 18 French citizens living outside of France to receive such recognition.
Bertrand moved to Queensland shortly after the end of his term to be near his two adult children. In 2017, he received a terminal cancer diagnosis.
He paid all his funeral costs in advance, and even held a living wake so that friends and family could say goodbye while he was still alive.
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