Ruth Victoria Carriage died on November 11, 2014, aged 94 years, but her enchanting stories will live on through her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
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Aunty Vicky, as she was known, was a storyteller.
She was the matriarch of Ulladulla’s Carriage family and a highly respected Aboriginal elder who was proud of her heritage.
As she was farewelled at the Mollymook Surf Club last Wednesday, family members spoke of Aunty Vicky’s amazing ability to hold court with countless stories from her childhood.
They recalled her stubbornness, her enjoyment of fishing, dancing and bowls, her love of tea and prawn cocktails and her absolute dedication to her large family.
Ruth Victoria was born on April 6, 1920, in a little house in Croobyar Road Milton, where the Shoalhaven Anglican School now sits.
Her son Fred thought it may have been the midwife’s house.
She moved around a lot when she was young as her parents, Frank and Ethel Brown, moved from town to town, as far north as Kempsey, avoiding the government’s forced removal of Aboriginal children.
The family eventually moved back to the area and Aunty Vicky attended Termeil school.
Her father died of consumption when she was only 11 and two of her brothers went missing two years later while on a camping trip on Brush Island and were never found.
Her mother passed away in 1945.
Aunty Vicky led a hard life, but she had many fond memories of growing up on the south coast, fishing and meeting Fred Carriage (dec), who she married in Nowra on March 12 1938.
The couple had seven children, Fred, Faye (dec), Lorraine and Barry who were born in Nowra and Andrea, Anne and Graeme who were born later in Milton.
Fred remembers growing up and going on fishing trips with the family every Sunday.
“We lived in little huts in the bush up on Deering Street and every Sunday we’d walk out to Warden Head and going fishing at a place we called Groper’s Rock,” he said.
“Mum would make dad throw out her line in exactly the right place and if he got it wrong she would rip shreds off him.
“Us kids would all sit back and laugh and hope that he’d get a snag.”
Aunty Vicky knew what she wanted and was stubborn and set in her ways.
“I remember the best thing that ever happened when we were kids was when dad bought his first car for 93 pounds, so we could go on fishing trips to Bawley or Kioloa,” Fred said.
“Mum decided she wanted to learn to drive and all the kids couldn’t wait to get in the car with her and roared laughing as she kangaroo-hopped down the road.”
Aunty Vicky never did learn to drive, but she did know how to fish and cook.
“One of her greatest loves was feeding everyone - especially at Christmas time when she’d make her prawn cocktails and get all the kids to help,”
“She always had so much time for the kids and grandkids - that was the love of her life,” Fred said.
In her younger days, Aunty Vicky enjoyed dancing, as well as doing fancy work and making shell jewellery boxes.
“I remember her reminding us to bring home shells whenever we went to the beach,” Lorraine said.
As her children grew up, attending local schools and gaining work in the area, Aunty Vicky’s family grew and she earned the title of Koori elder.
Before her death, she was the oldest living born Koori elder in the district.
She officiated at indigenous, as well as school and council ceremonies in the area for many years and visited local schools where she spoke about her heritage.
Aunty Vicky was supportive and proud of her family’s involvement in indigenous activities in the area, including the establishment of the Local Aboriginal Lands Council.
Following the death of her husband 30 years ago, Aunty Vicky lived with Lorraine until she became ill two weeks ago and was admitted to Milton hospital where she died following a heart attack.
Fred said his mother lived a long and full life and was rarely ill, even in her later years.
She lived through the great depression, World War II, incredible loss and family joy and has left behind a strong legacy that will be remembered through her stories and passed down through generations to come.