The Hon Ruby Hutchison was an active member of the community and supported many social causes. In 1949, the Westralian Worker reported that she was involved in 18 organisations. Ruby’s “first love, her daughter remembers, was to help whoever she could; she was known and admired for her selflessness and her energy. Even before her election Ruby Hutchison worked tirelessly for the party, for women’s and children’s issues and had a life long interest in the scouting movement for which she was duly recognised”. Ruby was founder (1962) and president of the Western Australian Epilepsy Association, and founder (1959) of the Australian Consumers Association. She was also founder and first chairman of the women's auxiliary of the State's Boy Scouts' Association. The Newcastle Morning Herald stated that she was a “research worker” for under privileged children; a delegate for the West Australian Council of Trade Unions to the United Nations committee; executive officer for the Travellers’ Aid Society; and Secretary of the Esperanto group.
“Portrait of political member of the Legislative Council for Suburban Province, first woman elected to this house, Honourable Mrs Ruby Florence Hutchison”, 10 November 1962
Westpix: WAN-0042534
Australian Consumers Association: “watchdog for housewives”
During the 1950’s Ruby initiated a campaign to establish a “watchdog for housewives”. As the eastern states was more populated, she “sent out signals about a consumer protection organisation”. Ruby met with RH Thorp, a professor of pharmacology and a “small group of idealists”. At a meeting at Sydney Town Hall, September 1959, the Australian Consumers' Association (ACA) was formed to protect the interests of Australian consumers. It started with about 50 members and 50 pounds in the bank. Ruby’s daughter, Ivy Sheahan was the honorary secretary and lent her flat as the registered office. At the time consumer rights and protections were virtually non-existent. Ruby commented:
"I am only a housewife, but I know how the housewives of [WA] are being robbed. I am not too learned in legal phraseology, but I would say that unfair trading practices would mean the taking of profits by big concerns up to a saturation point."
In December 1960, there were 4700 members of the ACA and within ten years the organisation had 65,000 members. In 1988, Ivy Sheahan was awarded an OAM “for service to the community, in particular, through the Australian Consumers Association”.
“Mrs Ruby Florence Hutchison, member of Western Australia Legislative Council, has started a new organisation which aims at protecting the interests of Australian comsumers [sic]. Ruby at home in Perth, WA, reads mail from all over Australia welcoming the Association”
National Archives of Australia: 8926277
Epilepsy Association of Western Australia
Ruby was the founding member and inaugural president of the Epilepsy Association of Western Australia. In July 1963, Ruby called the first meeting of the association. In 1965, an old house at 139 Coghlan Road, Subiaco was adapted as the headquarters of the association and named Ruby Hutchison House, in her honour. The association remained in the house until June 2002 when the headquarters were relocated to Nedlands. Ruby’s work for epilepsy was recognised internationally when she received an Ambassador for Epilepsy Award. She was determined that people with epilepsy should have equal opportunity and not suffer discrimination. In 1965, Ruby travelled to Canberra and met with Prime Minister Menzies to discuss the employment problems of people with epilepsy.
“West Australian Epilepsy Association, 14 Bagot Road, Subiaco, August 1984”
State Library of Western Australia: 312462PD
Nulsen Haven
Ruby Hutchison had a “great concern for children and young people, and their carers and aimed to establish a respite home for intellectually disabled children”. In 1954 a new association called the Mentally Incurable Children's Association was established following a Daily News appeal by Frank Anderson, a railway signalman who had a baby with microcephaly, a rare neurological condition. Ruby attended the association’s first meeting and became a Trustee when the office bearers were elected. No one in Ruby’s family had an intellectual disability but she took an avid interest in the association. The members found Ruby’s “services and parliamentary connections invaluable”. The group’s first official move was a deputation to the Minister for Health, Emil Nulsen. As Ruby was a member of the Legislative Council, she was able to expedite this visit. Ruby worked with parents to establish Nulsen Haven which was accommodation for “mentally incurable” children. Nulsen was officially opened on 7 October 1956 by the then Premier ARG Hawke. Emil Nulsen said, “with this home, WA had set an example to the rest of Australia, for the home was the first of its kind in the country”.
“Nulsen Haven, Redcliffe, 26 May 1975”
State Library of Western Australia: 361439PD
Scouts
Ruby volunteered for the Boy Scouts Association for 25 years: as a member of the state executive, and founder and first ‘chairman’ of the Women’s State Auxiliary. In 1949 she visited the Harvey troop whilst holidaying in Yarloop and donated one pound to the group funds.