Norpa News
A gem of a story
 Millions
of people across South America have shared Ruby's Story, which comes to Lismore
next month as part of our mid-winter weekend of music.
It is the story of one of Australia's pioneering Indigenous musicians, Ruby
Hunter, and her journey with husband, collaborator and fellow award-winner, Archie
Roach.
The story is told with music by one of Australia's leading contemporary composers,
Paul Grabowsky, and his collaborative creation, the Australian Art Orchestra.
They have just done a tour of the show in Mexico, which was televised throughout
the Spanish-speaking countries.
"Overseas, there is a lot of support for Australian Indigenous culture,"
said Ruby, who was the first Aboriginal woman in Australia to release a solo album,
in 1994.
Now, she said there are "a lot of young ones coming up."
"They are getting more brave, and realising that Aboriginal woman can
get up and do their stuff," she said. "They are feeling more up to it
these days - they got over the shame. That's what held us all back. These days
we are moving up and moving forward."
The first song of Ruby's to become a hit was City Streets, recorded by Archie
for his debut album, Charcoal Lane.
"City Streets - that's still there. It's part of everybody's life, it's
something people can identify with because it can happen to any of us."
Ruby's Story includes city streets - the streets of Adelaide where she and
Archie, two young people from the stolen generations, met at a Salvation Army
hostel.
It also tells of her birth and the River Country of her childhood, and how
she returns there as an adult to heal the wounds of the past.
Before the show could be performed, Ruby made the journey to share the story
with her Elders and get their approval.
"It is their story too," she said. "They got to let it out,
and I am so proud... when my people in Adelaide saw the show, that was enough
for me."
The Lismore performance will also include songs that have been written in Mexico.
Ruby's Story is on at the Lismore City Hall on July 23 at 8pm.
Tickets are $35.20/$29.20/$15.20 from the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre on
6621 5600.
Thanks to special sponsorship by Southern Cross University, members of the
local Indigenous community can purchase tickets at a special rate at Gnibi College
of Australian Indigenous Peoples at SCU. Enquire at Gnibi for details.
Events and giveaways
- Why not make Ruby's Story and the other two great shows that are part of our
mid-winter music weekend (Paul Capsis on July 22 and central African world music
ensemble H'Sao on July 24) part of a subscriber package? You'd only need to pick
one more show (such as the terrific Australian comedy Zigzag Street on June 28
and 29, or The Wind in the Willows on November 4, 5 or 6) to qualify for a substantial
discount on each show's ticket price plus our whole fabulous kit and caboodle
of subscriber discounts. For a free subscription brochure or any other info phone
6622 0300 or go to the website www.norpa.org.au.
- Renee Geyer is making an appearance at the Star Court Theatre next Thursday,
June 16. It's part of her national tour to celebrate her 21st album, Tonight.
Tickets are on sale now at the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre on 6621 5600.
- Win a double pass to Ruby's Story by telling us what you respect about her
as an artist. Put your answer in an envelope with an Echo masthead and mail it
to: Ruby's Story, NORPA, PO Box 225, Lismore, 2480 by next Monday, June 13.
- Winner of the Young Adam ticket giveaway is P Waddell of Goonellabah.
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