Ruth Hegarty
Ruth Hegarty 2007
Photograph by Reina Irmer
Ruth Hegarty was born in 1929 at Mitchell. She moved to Cherbourg Aboriginal Reserve with her family in 1930. She grew up in the dormitory system and was sent out to work as a domestic servant at the age of 14 years. She now lives in Brisbane with her children and grandchildren and is a respected elder in the community.
Listen to Ruth Hegarty talking about:
Why her family moved to Cherbourg in 1930.
Duration: 1:30 minutes
Streamed Audio: Windows Media Player
Streamed Audio: Real Player
Being removed from her mother when she was four and a half years old.
Duration: 3:00 minutes
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Streamed Audio: Real Player
Her mother being sent out to work.
Duration: 1:30 minutes
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Streamed Audio: Real Player
Living at Cherbourg, eating meals in the dining room and dormitory rules.
Duration: 2:40 minutes
Streamed Audio: Windows Media Player
Streamed Audio: Real Player
Weevils, turnips and the food that was served at Cherbourg.
Duration: 5:00 minutes
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Her mother's experience of living at Cherbourg.
Duration: 2:00 minutes
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Getting dressed for bed in the dormitories.
Duration: 0:40 minutes
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Being sent to work as a domestic servant.
Duration: 2:40 minutes
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Her excitement on returning to Cherbourg after being away for 12 months of domestic service.
Duration: 1:25 minutes
Streamed Audio: Windows Media Player
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Finding her case files in the government records.
Duration: 2:00 minutes
Streamed Audio: Windows Media Player
Streamed Audio: Real Player
Audio interview recorded 14 December 1999.
Interviewer: Helen Curzon-Siggers
Audio excerpt provided courtesy of the National Library of Australia, Bringing Them Home Oral History Project
ORAL TRC 5000/248 [new window]
Large dormitory, Cherbourg, 1933
Negative number 59630
John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland
Last updated: 26th August 2009
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