Ruby Hunter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ruby Hunter
Ruby Hunter (left) with partner Archie Roach at the 2009 Tamworth Country Music Festival
Background information
Also known as	Aunty Ruby
Born	(1955-10-31)31 October 1955 Goat Island, near Renmark, South Australia
Died	17 February 2010(2010-02-17) (aged 54)
Genres	Folk, blues, roots
Instruments	Vocals, guitar

Ruby Charlotte Margaret Hunter (born October 31, 1955 – died February 17, 2010), also known as Aunty Ruby, was an Aboriginal Australian singer, songwriter, and guitarist. She was also the life and music partner of Archie Roach.

Early Life and Childhood

Ruby Hunter was born on October 31, 1955, on Goat Island. This island is located on the banks of the Murray River near Renmark in South Australia. She was a woman from the Ngarrindjeri, Kokatha, and Pitjantjatjara peoples.

When Ruby was born, her parents lived in tents on Goat Island. They had come to the Riverland area to find work. This was after the Swan Reach mission, a special community for Aboriginal people, had closed in 1946.

Ruby lived with her brothers, Wally, Jeffrey, and Robert, and her sister Iris. They lived with their grandparents at the Aboriginal reserve at Point McLeay. This place is on Lake Alexandrina in the Coorong region of South Australia.

When Ruby was eight years old, something very sad happened. Government officials took her brother Wally from the street. Then, other officials took the rest of the children from their home. They told the children they were going to the circus, but it was not true.

After this, Ruby lived in special homes and with foster families. She was part of the Stolen Generations. This name refers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children who were taken from their families by government policies.

Ruby was first placed at Seaforth Children's Home in Somerton Park, South Australia. Later, she lived with a foster family. After an argument with her foster brother, she was moved to Vaughan House. This was a home for girls in Enfield, South Australia.

At 16, Ruby met Archie Roach. They were both homeless teenagers at the time. They met at the Salvation Army People's Palace in Pirie Street, Adelaide. Archie inspired Ruby to learn to play the guitar and write her own songs.

Music and Performing Career

Ruby Hunter first performed in public in 1988. This was at a festival in Bondi Pavilion in Sydney. She sang "Proud, Proud Woman," which was the first song she had ever written.

In 1990, she wrote "Down City Streets." This song was about her own life. Archie Roach performed it on his first album, Charcoal Lane.

In 1994, Ruby made history. She became the first Indigenous Australian woman to record a solo rock album. She was also the first Aboriginal woman to sign with a major record label. Her first album was called Thoughts Within. This album helped her become well-known as a performer and songwriter.

After this, Ruby toured with Archie Roach. They performed all over Australia and in other countries. She released her second album, Feeling Good, in May 2000.

In 2000, Ruby also appeared in a documentary film called Land of the Little Kings. This film shared the stories of Indigenous children who were taken from their families. The film's name comes from a song by Paul Kelly. In the film, Ruby returned to her childhood home for the first time. She shared her own childhood story. The film won a Human Rights Award in 2000.

In 2001, Ruby started acting. She was in the movie One Night the Moon. This film was directed by Rachel Perkins and also starred Paul Kelly.

Ruby, Archie Roach, Paul Grabowsky, and the Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) created a concert called Ruby's Story. This show told Ruby's life story through songs and spoken words. It first played at the Sydney Opera House in June 2004. The show was very popular. In 2004, the music from Ruby's Story won an award for best film and theater music. The show toured until 2009. The music was released as an album in 2005.

In October 2004, a new concert called Kura Tungar – Songs from the River began. This was another project with Archie Roach, Paul Grabowsky, and the AAO. The concert told stories from Ruby and Archie's lives. It included songs about the Murray River and Ngarrindjeri Country, which was Ruby's home. The music mixed Ruby and Archie's songs with jazz music from the AAO. It was performed to sold-out audiences and received standing ovations. In 2005, Kura Tungar won an award for Best Contemporary Australian Concert.

In 2005, Ruby was invited to join the Broad Festival project. She performed with other Australian female artists like Deborah Conway, Sara Storer, Katie Noonan, and Clare Bowditch. They sang their own songs and each other's songs.

Family Life

Ruby and Archie Roach had a very strong and loving bond. They stayed together throughout their lives. They had two sons and officially fostered three other children. They also helped many other teenagers by letting them stay in their home. Archie estimated they helped about 15 to 20 more children over the years.

Ruby said that her greatest achievement was keeping her family together and strong.

Death and What She Left Behind

Ruby Hunter passed away from a heart attack on February 17, 2010. She was 54 years old.

After her death, Archie Roach started Ruby's Foundation. This foundation helps continue Ruby's work. It aims to create chances for Aboriginal people. It does this by supporting and celebrating Aboriginal arts and culture. As of March 2022, Ruby's Foundation has a Facebook page.

In 2020, Ruby Hunter was honored by being added to the Hall of Fame at the National Indigenous Music Awards.

A documentary film called Wash My Soul in the River's Flow was released in 2021. It is based on the 2004 concert Kura Tungar – Songs from the River. The film shows Ruby and Archie singing about the Murray River and Ngarrindjeri lands. It also tells the love story between Ruby and Archie. The film includes beautiful scenes of The Coorong. In the film, Ruby wears pelican feathers. Archie explains that Ruby was a pelican in the Dreamtime, which is a spiritual time for Aboriginal people. He says her spirit has returned to being a pelican.

In 2021, people in the Riverland area started a campaign. They want to rename Goat Island to Ruby Hunter Island to honor her. Since Goat Island is part of the Murray River National Park, the government department for environment and water will make the final decision.

In 2022, two tall monuments were built near Lake Bonney at Barmera. These monuments honor Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach. On the front of each monument is a glass mosaic artwork. Ruby's sister-in-law, Rosslyn Richards, designed them. One shows Ruby's Ngarrindjeri totem, the pelican (nori). The other shows Archie's totem, the eagle.

Ruby Hunter is still lovingly known as Aunty Ruby.

Discography

Albums

Filmography

• Evil Angels (1988)
• Correlli (TV mini-series, 1995)
• The Land of Little Kings (2000)
• One Night the Moon (2001)
• Wash My Soul in the River's Flow (2021)

Awards and Recognitions

ARIA Music Awards

The ARIA Music Awards are annual awards that celebrate great music in Australia.

The Deadly Awards

The Deadly Awards celebrated achievements by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in music, sport, and entertainment. They ran from 1995 to 2013.

Helpmann Awards

The Helpmann Awards celebrate live entertainment and performing arts in Australia.

National Indigenous Music Awards

The National Indigenous Music Awards recognize amazing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander musicians from Australia.

Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards

The Sidney Myer Performing Arts Awards recognize great achievements in dance, drama, music, and other performing arts.