Ruby was a fun-loving, smart, happy and grounded child. She grew up in a normal family and was the eldest of 4 children, with sisters Sarah and Lucy, and youngest brother Luke.
Ruby had a warmth about her. A caring nature that resonated early in her life to everyone. She was a kid at heart and loved to just run and play but had a unique presence that endeared her to all ages, from grandparents to adults and to kids.
Ruby loved sports. It started in the backyard with bikes, running and then graduated to Little Athletics at the age of 8, then into basketball at the age of 9. Ruby’s goal was to run for Australia at the Olympics and she was moving into more specialist 800m and 1500m running, with some success and achievements at state level.
“I love to run” she would often comment. “Running makes me feel free”.
For Ruby, however determined or focused she was about what she was doing, she was different.
She had a caring spirit that continued to draw her attention to others: whether it be siblings, family members, other students and other athletes/teammates.
Ruby had an interest in others and only saw goodness. Whether the teammate or competitor was at her skill level, ability or otherwise, Ruby only saw goodness in people as many would attest. She allowed herself only to see and think positively and was never critical, threatened or worried about others.
As a year 4, Ruby’s school class did an Aquatics excursion day at West Lakes. A number of the children were left behind and could not attend, and spent the day back at school. We remember clearly asking Ruby how the day was and she said simply “good, but there were 3 people that could not come as their parents could not afford it”. She was genuinely concerned and this was foremost in her thoughts.
This discussion would take shape over that night and the next week. Ruby would then approach the school and principal, with her mum, to see what she could do about it. Could she use her birthday money to pay for others to come to the next excursion set for term 2? We never realised it at the time, but her thoughts, understanding and care for others to be included, and not be left behind or excluded, developed at such a young age.
Ruby was diagnosed with a rare form of Cancer in June 2019, just when she was beginning to really shine and blossom in her athletics, basketball and school. Ruby would undergo 15 months of Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, hundreds of test and days in hospital.
Her spirit never changed, even when the ability to be actively involved in her school and compete in sports was taken from her. Ruby would attend her team’s basketball games as often as she could and would sit on the bench with the coaching staff during games, to support her teammates.
Ruby fought to save her own life with everything she had and never gave up. Ruby passed away peacefully at home on the 17th July 2020. Her courage and spirit continue to be an inspiration to all those that knew her.
Ruby wanted everyone to have a chance and not feel left out. The love and joy that she found in school and education and in sports and competition was something that Ruby wanted everyone to experience, and to never be denied because of family circumstance or other outside influences.
Thus for us and anyone that knew Ruby well enough, the Ruby Tuesday Foundation is a reflection of Ruby and everything she stood for. It is a reflection of how Ruby saw the world, seeing the goodness in everyone and of wanting to help others to ensure that no one missed out on life opportunities.
Named after the famous 1966 Rolling Stones song ‘Ruby Tuesday’, the gorgeous Ruby was born on a Tuesday morning in September 2007, and from that day onwards Ruby Tuesday was a nickname that just stuck.
To her close family she was and will always be our ‘Ruby Tuesday’. A girl with a smile that could light up a room and a warmth and care for others that simply radiated from her.
The Ruby Tuesday Foundation walks together with the traditional custodians of this nation. In doing this we acknowledge and pay respect to elders past, present and future, and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
