Aunty Ruth Simms (deceased) was born on The Reserve in La Perouse in 1941 as one of nine children. She grew up with a strong connection to both Larpa and Jerrinja communities. From a young age she learnt about traditional bush foods, language and medicines and went to sleep on ‘goonjarn’ stories (ancient spirit stories). Aunty Ruth gained a Diploma of Education and was passionate about embedding Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum. She was the longest serving Aboeiginal Education Officer at the NSW Department of Education and was a strong advocate for her people. In 2012, Aunty Ruth was awarded an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for her contributions to education.