Gungurri Elder Ruth Hegarty is Noonga’s feisty patron and inspiration. She was born in 1929 in Mitchell, Queensland, and raised at the Cherbourg Aboriginal Mission. Separated from her family at age four, Aunty Ruth relied on friendships with other dormitory girls and dared to stand up for herself and others in the face of whipping, forced labour and stolen wages.

Aunty Ruth went on to raise eight children and volunteer tirelessly with her community, including as a founding member of the Koobara Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Resource Centre. Her testimony was included in the Bringing them Home report.  She was awarded the Premier’s Award for Queensland Seniors Year and was a member of the Queensland Stolen Wages Working Group.

Aunty Ruth has written two autobiographies, one of which was the inspiration for the play Is That You, Ruthie? by Leah Purcell. These works are a lasting legacy of Aunty Ruth’s lifelong commitment to truth-telling and community.

For more details, check out Aunty Ruth’s Wikipedia entry and listen to her ABC Radio interview.