Rebel Heart: Amos Roach on his parents Archie and Ruby and their legacy of love

Ruby Hunter first laid eyes on Archie Roach when they were kids. He was in the studio audience of children's program The Happy Show; she was watching on TV when she reportedly said to her foster mum, 'I'm going to marry that boy!'

The pair met years later as teenagers at a Salvation Army drop-in centre in Adelaide in 1973. Archie, a Gunditjmara and Bundjalung man, and Ruby, a Ngarrindjeri, Kokotha and Pitjantjatjara woman, were both members of the Stolen Generations. They bonded over a shared love of music, their Aboriginal heritage and a determination to acknowledge and heal from their past grief.

So begins the pair's remarkable love story, which would see them go on to indeed marry, and become Australian music icons – forging a path for future generations of First Nations musicians.

Archie later spoke of that first meeting, recalling seeing the most beautiful woman in a blue dress. It's a moment detailed in the pair's song Old So & So.

'She was a princess and this city was her throne, and she lived in a palace of concrete and stone. He was a stranger and he felt all alone, and he met this princess, that young vagabond,' sings Archie.

Those lyrics and more feature in the Library's moving new exhibition Rebel Heart: Love letters and other declarations – an exploration of the rebels of romance throughout Australian history, evocatively told through the Library’s archive of soul-baring letters, intimate diaries and rare manuscripts.

The story of Archie and Ruby is accompanied by a newly commissioned song by their eldest son, award-winning musician, dancer and director, Amos Roach.

'They had a good relationship; they could communicate with each other and talk and play music and sing songs. It was a way that they communicated with us [kids] too,' says Amos, reflecting on his parents’ devotion. 'Mum and Dad always loved a cup of tea, a laugh, and music.'

The exclusive song, a bluesy instrumental titled 'Composition for Mum and Dad', features Amos on Didjeridu and guitar – his dad's c.1980 Harmony H-50 Archtop electric guitar, gifted to Amos and on display in the exhibition.

'I've been playing with Mum and Dad since I was 7, so that's just a lot of what my influence and inspiration is… the way they play music, the way they play the guitar.

'Mum was pretty good at the blues; she had that real growl in her voice. I learned a lot from watching them and learning how they play. I'm just responding to their love and generosity through music and giving it back to them.'

Their love – a relationship spanning almost 4 decades until Ruby's passing in 2010 – was a true collaboration. Many of their deeply personal lyrics are love letters to family, community and each other.

'Me and my brothers and sisters, we love them and miss them. But we're happy they showed us this good medicine – this music – as a way of connecting, sharing, learning and understanding,' says Amos. 'They were able to change the way people see the world and give them a glimpse into our ancient, rich, beautiful culture. Even though they're not here, their message is still here – to share and to connect.'

Rebel Heart: Love letters and other declarations is on until 27 January 2027 at State Library Victoria.

Photo: Jim Arneman
Story: Daniela Frangos