Story time with Aunty Ruth Hegarty

State Library is honoured to host Aunty Ruth Hegarty as she launches her latest set of Aboriginal children’s books and shares cultural wisdom, truth and timeless storytelling.

Free event. Light refreshments will be provided.

Aunty Ruth's books will be available for sale on the day and she will be signing copies after the event.

This event will be introduced by Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHA.

About the author:

Aunty Ruth was born in Mitchell, Western Queensland, in 1929. Her mother and grandparents (deceased) were descendants of the Gunggari People of the Maranoa District. After the family’s move to the Cherbourg Settlement in 1930, Aunty Ruth was removed from her mother and became a "dormitory girl". Twenty-one years later she married a Cherbourg man, Joe Hegarty Junior, and together they raised eight children there.

The Hegarty family left Cherbourg in 1966 and since that time Aunty Ruth has become a respected Elder working tirelessly to improve the way of life for Aboriginal people. In the 90s Aunty Ruth’s life took a new turn when her memoir "Is That You, Ruthie?" was awarded the prestigious David Uniapon Award. "Bittersweet Journey" - the sequel to "Is That You, Ruthie?" - was published in 2003. More recently Aunty Ruth self-published "Jack’s story: The life and times of a Cherbourg Dormitory Boy".

Aunty Ruth is an author, an activist and an educator and was publicly recognised by the Queensland Government when, in 2010, she was added to the list of Queensland Greats for her tireless campaigning for a fair go for her people.

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Host or Publisher State Library of Queensland