Matron Ruby-May Hyde

Ngadlu tampinthi ngadlu Kaurna Miyurna yartangka. Munaintya puru purruna ngadlu-itya. Munaintyanangku yalaka tarrkarriana tuntarri.

We acknowledge we are on Kaurna Miyurna land. The Dreaming is still living. From the past, in the present, into the future, forever.

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Matron Ruby-May Hyde

Archive Collections / Matron Ruby-May Hyde

Born : 1891

Died : 1982

Matron Ruby-May Hyde, MBE was born in Victoria in 1891 and studied at the Melbourne Bible Institute. After graduating in 1923, Matron Hyde studied children’s work at Bomaderry Children’s Home, New South Wales.

In December of 1925, Matron Hyde traveled to Oodnadatta and graciously replaced Miss Annie Lock and Miss Iris Harris as matron of the United Aborigines Mission (UAM) Children’s Home.

In May 1927, Matron Hyde, accompanied by Sister Rutter, MBE, and the twelve Aboriginal children in their care traveled more than 600km to Quorn where they officially established the Colebrook Children’s Home; named as such in honor of South Australian UAM president, TE Colebrook. For the first 6 years of the Colebrook Home, Matron Hyde, with assistance of the UAM rented a small cottage, however due to insufficient water supplies the Colebrook Home was moved to another location within Quorn in May of 1933.
The original Quorn site for Colebrook Home was chosen because the South Australian Government refused to allow the children any closer to Adelaide. Fortunately, in 1944, the Australian Government agreed to allow Colebrook Home to be relocated to Eden Hills. Arrangements were made by the Commissioner of Public Works to secure the lease of a building and 10 acres of land for the home to be established on.

Matron Hyde’s affection for the children at Colebrook Home was only matched by her dedication to her faith. Many of the children looked back fondly on the time they spent in Quorn and Eden Hills, commonly saying they felt more like a family with two parental figures in Matron Hyde and Sister Rutter.

Matron Hyde continued as caretaker and guardian of the children at Colebrook Home until 1952. A split in the UAM caused both Matron Hyde and Sister Rutter to resign. Not long after that, the sisters open Tanderra Hostel for Girls.

In 1971, Matron Hyde and Sister Rutter were made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for their services and dedication to the care of Australian Aboriginal children.

Matron Hyde died in 1982 at the age of 91.

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Inventory Listings by Series

Series AA148/1 - Black and white photographs of Australian Aboriginal People at Oodnadatta, Nepabunna, Finnis Springs, Parkside, and Colebrook Home at Quorn and Eden Hills.

Series AA148/2 - Negatives of Matron Hyde's photographs from the series AA149/1/1-89.

Prepared By: Jason Li