"What an amazing, memorable night out!"
Ngarrindjeri woman, Ruby Hunter's life story through song and storytelling premiered at the Sydney Opera House, Message Sticks festival last week. ABC's Indigenous Cadet Presenter, Kezia George went along.
What an amazing, memorable night out! Ruby’s Story had it all, heartfelt stories from Ruby Hunter; full of humour, sorrow, fun and love, the Australian Art Orchestra hanging onto her every word with soulful, intuitive jazz.
Ruby’s yarns about her life were amplified by her songs. She explained that Kura Tunga are songs and stories of the river then as she sang one song, Kura Tunga the background lighting rippled like moonlight on water.
Her partner, Archie Roach sang A Child Is Born Tonight, the story of a child coming into the world. Ruby was born premature to the billabong, she told us, being delivered by her Grandfather, in Held up to the Moon in My Grandfather’s Hands. The last of the water themed songs was Coolamon Baby, a song about her little brother being taken by the tide and her father wading in to rescue him. Subtly, Archie and Ruby accompanied the lyrics of each song by dancing.
Ruby painted a picture of a carefree childhood, and had us all laughing when she told of hiding from welfare and playing games with her siblings. Archie sang Nopin Kurongk about Ruby concealing herself under her Grandmother’s petticoats. Then Ruby charmed us with Daisy Chains, String Games and Knuckle Bones, a real toe-tapper that I’m still singing to myself.
This picture of freedom and fun by the waters in Ruby’s Story was shattered when Archie sang a beautiful rendition of Took the Children Away...
"This story's right, this story's true I would not tell lies to you Like the promises they did not keep And how they fenced us in like sheep..." Took the Children Away
I swear everyone in the audience was in tears as Ruby’s plight as a stolen child was revealed. Through her song Down City Streets we were taken through the bleak times in her life before she met her ‘soulmate’, Archie.
Archie told us of that wonderful meeting at the The People’s Palace and finished up the evening with two Ruby inspired songs.
A breathtakingly, honest and playful performance.
- Kezia George http://www.abc.net.au/message Published Date: 10/06/2004
