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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2022-05-04 Daily Xml
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Ruby Hunter Archie Roach Monument

The Hon. I. PNEVMATIKOS (14:36): My question is to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. Will the minister inform the council about the recent unveiling of the Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach monument in Barmera?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Attorney-General, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:36): I thank the honourable member for her question and for her ongoing interest in this area. Last Friday, I had the privilege of attending the unveiling of the Ruby Hunter and Archie Roach monument on the Barmera lakefront on the lands of the River Murray and Mallee peoples, who were represented by Aunty Ena Turner, who provided the Welcome to Country.

I had the pleasure of attending the ceremony, alongside members of Aunty Ruby and Uncle Archie's family, including Aunty Ruby's brothers Uncle Wally Richards and Uncle Jeffrey Hunter. During the unveiling, I had the pleasure of being seated with the mayor, Peter Hunt, of the Berri Barmera Council, whose colleagues Councillor Rhonda Centofanti and Councillor Margaret Evans were amongst members of the Hunter Roach Monument Committee.

It was the tireless work of this committee, whose members also included Cheryl Norris, Rosemary Gower and Ros Richards, Aunty Ruby's sister-in-law, and Trevor Scott, that led to the creation of these twin monuments.

The local MP, the member for Chaffey from the other place, also attended, as well, sir, as one of your predecessors, now Senator McLachlan, and Senate candidate Kerryne Liddle. I want to recognise others, including Adam Blake, the CEO of Blundstone Australia, who journeyed from Tasmania for the unveiling. It was Adam who, after hearing an interview with Mrs Norris on ABC radio about the work of the committee, contacted her and was able to secure the board of Blundstone Australia to donate the entire $15,000 needed for this project. It is a great example of the private sector working with the council and the community to further reconciliation.

As many will know, Aunty Ruby Hunter was a local legend of the Riverland who, along with her lifelong partner, Uncle Archie Roach, became some of Australia's most renowned musicians. Their music, often inspired by the Riverland, brought Aboriginal culture and identity to the world.

Before her passing in 2010, Aunty Ruby earned many accolades: an ARIA nominee, Helpmann Award winner, several Deadly Awards and applause from audiences across the country and indeed across the world. Aunty Ruby was the first Aboriginal woman to sign up with a major recording company. She was inducted, posthumously, into the National Indigenous Music Awards Hall of Fame in 2020.

Uncle Archie's music career spans over 30 years and more than 10 albums, from his debut with Charcoal Lane in 1990, including the very famous song Took the Children Away, to his latest album, Tell Me Why, which was released last year as a companion album to the memoir of the same name. Uncle Archie has won nine ARIAs, eight Deadly Awards, four National Indigenous Music Awards, an APRA Award, a National Dreamtime Award and in 2013 was inducted to both the Deadly Awards Hall of Fame and the National Indigenous Music Hall of Fame, as well as in 2015 the Music Victoria Hall of Fame.

Uncle Archie was honoured in 2015 in the Queen's Birthday Honours List and made a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to the nation. Both Aunty Ruby and Uncle Archie were survivors of the stolen generations. Aunty Ruby was born on the banks of the Murray River at Renmark and despite being taken from her family as a child never lost her spiritual connection with the Riverland. Uncle Archie was taken from his family in Victoria. It was when Uncle Archie moved to Adelaide that he met Aunty Ruby, both aged 16, and this remarkable partnership began.

It was a moving and fitting day when the Aunty Ruby and Uncle Archie monuments were unveiled in the Riverland. The monuments contain artworks depicting Aunty Ruby's totem, the pelican (Nori), and Uncle Archie's totem, the eagle (Wuldi). I am proud that the new South Australian government committed before the election to implement a $1 million program for the design and delivery of further statues to celebrate Aboriginal leaders' history and heritage.

It was a great collaboration with Blundstone and the private sector, but we want to lead as a government in making sure we see more of these things around the country. As was commented on last Friday, these sorts of monuments can provide inspiration to young Aboriginal people. I think the words that were used were, 'After all, you can't be what you can't see.'

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