Is That You, Ruthie? (Paperback)

Ruth Hegarty

ISBN 10: 0702268542 / ISBN 13: 9780702268540

Published by University of Queensland Press, St Lucia, 2024

About this Item

Paperback. Now included in UQP's First Nations Classics series with an introduction from Jackie Huggins, Is That You, Ruthie? is a remarkable memoir that recounts, with characteristic humour and honesty, a dormitory girl's life on the Mission.'Is that you .?' Matron's voice would ring out across the dormitory. In that pause sixty little girls would stop in their tracks, waiting to hear who was in trouble. All too often the name called out would be that of the high-spirited dormitory girl Ruthie.In the Depression years Queensland's notorious Cherbourg Aboriginal Mission became home to four-year-old Ruth until her late teens when she was sent out to serve as a domestic on a station homestead. Ruthie is the central character in this lively and candid memoir of institutional life. Her milestones and memories reflect the experiences of many dormitory girls. The strong and lasting bonds that developed between them helped to compensate for family love and support denied them by the government's disruptive removal policy.An inspiring life story, this remarkable memoir won the David Unaipon Award in 1998. Now included in UQP's First Nations Classics series with an introduction from Jackie Huggins, Is That You, Ruthie? is a remarkable memoir that recounts, with characteristic humour and honesty, a dormitory girl's life on the Mission. Shipping may be from our Sydney, NSW warehouse or from our UK or US warehouse, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780702268540

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Is That You, Ruthie? (Paperback)
• Publisher: University of Queensland Press, St Lucia
• Publication Date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0702268542
• ISBN 13: 9780702268540
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition: 3rd Edition
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

‘ Is that you … ?’ Matron’ s voice would ring out across the dormitory. In that pause sixty little girls would stop in their tracks, waiting to hear who was in trouble. All too often the name called out would be that of the high-spirited dormitory girl Ruthie. In the Depression years, Queensland’ s notorious Cherbourg Aboriginal Mission became home to four-year-old Ruth until her late teens when she was sent out to serve as a domestic on a station homestead. Ruthie is the central character in this lively and candid memoir of institutional life. Her milestones and memories reflect the experiences of many dormitory girls. The strong and lasting bonds that developed between them all helped to compensate for family love and support denied them by the government's disruptive removal policy. An inspiring life story, this remarkable memoir won the David Unaipon Award in 1998.

About the Author

Ruth Hegarty won the 1998 David Unaipon Award for her manuscript Is That You, Ruthie? Her sequel memoir, Bittersweet Journey (UQP 2003), recounts her life after Cherbourg Mission as a wife, mother and advocate for the Indigenous community. Ruth has been awarded both a Premier's Award for Queensland Seniors for outstanding service to the community and an Honorary Doctorate from the ACU in recognition of her contributions to Australian literature and Indigenous Education. In 2023, her memoir, Is That You, Ruthie?, was adapted into a successful stage show. Dr Jackie Huggins AM FAHA, a member of the Bidjara and Birri Gubba Juru peoples, is currently leading the work for Treaty/Treaties in Queensland. In popular demand as a speaker on Aboriginal issues, she is a well-known historian and author, with articles published widely in Australia and internationally.