Follow Ruth Shaw's tumultuous journey as she escapes her past in New Zealand, navigates love and loss across the Pacific islands, and ultimately finds solace amidst tragedy. Discover her resilience, hidden secrets, and emotional reunions in this captivating tale of a runaway rebel.
Ruth Shaw's history of swift adjustments amidst troubled pasts reflects her crafty adaptation to survive financial constraints.
Facing profound losses and navigating a life marred by deception, Ruth's resilience shines through as she finally embraces transformation and love.
Deep dives
Ruth's Resourceful Adaptation in Brisbane
In 1969, Ruth Shaw, facing financial constraints in Brisbane, discreetly borrowed clothes under the guise of planning to return them. Despite feeling a sense of achievement, she returned the outfits while keeping a blouse and stockings, leaving apology notes. This crafty adaptation reflected Ruth's history of swift adjustments amidst troubled pasts.
Ruth's Heartrending Journey of Loss and Hope
After facing a traumatic experience at 17, leading to pregnancy and forced adoption, Ruth navigated profound losses, including her husband's sudden death and her newborn son's brief life. Her resilience shone as she continuously moved to evade painful memories, crafting a life marred by deception and profound grief.
Ruth's Unexpected Reunion and Redemption
Decades later, Ruth's encounter with her lost son, facilitated by a persistent search and a compassionate priest, triggered a transformative reunion filled with nerves, laughter, and recognition. The reunion marked the end of Ruth's prolonged quest and embraced newfound love and familial ties, signifying a poignant redemption amid lifelong hardships.
Ruth's Resolute Embrace of Life and Legacy
Ruth's settled life in New Zealand with Lance and her profound attachment to family underscored a newfound stability and contentment. Her dedication to nurturing relationships with her son and grandson reflected a deep-seated resilience and defiance against conforming to age-related expectations, embodying an enduring spirit of vitality and courage.
Ruth Shaw spent years on ships and islands, trying to outrun her past.
She left her home in New Zealand as a young woman, driven away by a traumatic attack that would shape her life for years to come. Ruth tried to find escape on sailing ships, in Tahitian gambling dens and in the bars and kitchens of Papua New Guinea. But ultimately she had to head home, to face up to deep adolescent scars, and to find the child she’d been forced to give up years before.
Presenter: India Rakusen
Producer: May Cameron
Editor: Munazza Khan
Photo: ‘The Bookseller at the End of the World’
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