Today, Australia Day, 26th January, (ironic) my tribal mother Ruby Langford Ginibi celebrates her 72nd birthday. She is a Bundjalung Elder, survivor, traditional keeper, awarded author, educator, historian. She has birthed 12 children, raised 18 and buried three who she still grieves for. She has lived in the back blocks in tents building fences and raising the kids. She has had to duff sheep to feed the family. She has had to work day and night in order to survive. She has starved, grieved, been treated worse than a drovers dog, and still all she can give is love. She overcame a 12 year drinking binge and wrote her first book in 1988 "Don't Take Your Love To Town" which has become not only a multi-award winning book but a referenced text on contemporary Aboriginality. Ruby says her story is the story of every Indigenous person trying to survive in the white mans world. She continues to be generous of her love and her spirit, caring and sharing with all humanity. A mighty force and a mighty person.   Happy Birthday my Mother. I honour you and revere you and love you with all my heart. My respect for you has lifted my life as it has lifted all of us who have the privilege of you as a mum. I put your name out into the world and into history as a person among us all who matters in ways counted and uncounted.