Background information

Doris Pilkington Garimara

Doris Pilkington Garimara (1937-2014) was an author from Western Australia. Pilkington belonged to the Martu Aboriginal people, specifically the Jigalong community.

Garimara's most notable work is the book titled Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence, published in 1996. The book tells the true story of Garimara's mother, Molly Craig, her half-sister Daisy, and her cousin Gracie, who were forcibly removed from their families as part of the Stolen Generations policy. The three girls embarked on an incredible journey, walking over 1,600 kilometers across Western Australia's harsh desert to return to their home in Jigalong. Garimara drew from her mother's experiences and oral history to write this account of resilience, survival, and the strength of family bonds.

Garimara’s mother Molly was taken to Moore River again in the 1940s with her two daughters Doris and Annabelle. She ran away a year later with Annabelle, and left Garimara with a relative. In 1943, Annabelle was taken away from her mother again and told she was an orphan; they never saw each other again. Doris reunited with her mother twenty-one years later.

Garimara’s book based on her mother’s experience gained international recognition and was adapted into a highly acclaimed film called Rabbit-Proof Fence in 2002, directed by Phillip Noyce. Garimara's work played a significant role in raising awareness about the Stolen Generations and their experiences, contributing to a broader understanding of this historical injustice.

The Stolen Generations

The film Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002) directed by Phillip Noyce discusses...