Ruth Coleman

Ruth Nancy Coleman (; 27 September 1931 – 27 March 2008) was an Australian politician. She was a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and served as a Senator for Western Australia from 1974 to 1987. She was prominent in the anti-nuclear movement.

Early life Coleman was born on 27 September 1931 in Collie, Western Australia, the daughter of Alice Beatrice (née Boulden) and Vincent Huckstep. Her father was a railway ganger and the family moved frequently during her childhood.

Coleman moved to Melbourne in the 1950s with her first husband, where she began working in radio and television. She returned to Perth in 1964 following her divorce and worked for Swan Television (Channel Nine) as a publicity and promotions officer. She was elected to the Senate at the 1974 federal election, with all seats vacant due to a double dissolution. Coleman and Jean Melzer of Victoria were the ALP's first female senators since the retirement of Dorothy Tangney in 1968.

In November 1984, Coleman suffered a severe stroke at her office in Midland, days before the 1984 federal election. She did not regain consciousness for several days and was reportedly close to death. She retired from the Senate at the 1987 election.

Personal life Coleman had a daughter from her first marriage. She remarried in 1967 to Jim Coleman, with whom she had one son. Her husband served as the secretary of the Trades and Labour Council of Western Australia and was later appointed to the Commonwealth Conciliation and Arbitration Commission. He also retired in 1987 and the couple settled in Yunderup. Coleman returned to Perth following her husband's death and lived in Bassendean until her death from cancer on 27 March 2008. She was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.