Ruth Hegarty facts for kids
Ruth Hegarty (born in 1929 in Mitchell, Queensland) is an Aboriginal Elder and a well-known author. She is famous for writing books about her own life. These books share her experiences as part of the Stolen Generations. This was a time when many Aboriginal children were taken from their families.
Her first book, Is That You, Ruthie?, tells about her time at the Cherbourg Aboriginal Mission. She lived there until she was 14 years old. Her second book, Bittersweet Journey, is about her early married life. It also covers her work in community groups and Indigenous organisations.
Is That You, Ruthie? won the David Unaipon Award in 1998. This award is for Indigenous writers whose books have not yet been published. In 2023, a play by Leah Purcell was made based on the book. Ruth Hegarty also received a prize at the Queensland Greats Awards in 2010.
Ruth Hegarty's Life Story
Ruth Hegarty and her mother, Ruby, first lived together at the Cherbourg Aboriginal Mission. When Ruth was four years old, they were separated. Her mother was sent away to work. After that, they only saw each other sometimes.
At the mission, Ruth made strong friends with the other girls. They were always watched and had very strict rules. They were punished for even small mistakes. The girls stayed together to support and protect each other. There was no fair way to deal with problems, just strict rules and punishments. Ruth said that they were punished from a very young age. She felt it was like a prison, even though they were just children who had done nothing wrong.
In 1943, when Ruth was 14, she was sent away from Cherbourg. She went to work as a domestic servant in someone's home. This was the first time she had traveled alone. She did not know the people she was going to work for. She felt very alone and worried.
In the 1960s, Ruth looked at her old records from Cherbourg. She found out that many letters she wrote to her friends at the mission were never delivered. After this, Ruth organised a reunion for the girls she grew up with at Cherbourg.
Ruth married Joe Hegarty, whom she had known since childhood. They have a family of eight children.
For over 30 years, Ruth Hegarty has volunteered in her community. She has helped with projects for young people and for older people. In 1998, she won the Premier's Award for her community work. She also helped start the Koobara Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Family Resource Centre.
In 2007, Ruth Hegarty was part of a group in Queensland. This group looked into "Stolen Wages." These were wages that Aboriginal people earned but were often held back or not paid to them.
Awards and Recognition
- 1998 Queensland Premier's Literary Awards
- 2010 Queensland Greats Awards
