Follow the rabbit proof fence

Citation

Pilkington, Doris. (Nugi Garimara). Follow the rabbit proof fence, Queensland, : University of Queensland Press, 1996.

Annotation

This gem stays with you.  In 1931, Molly, 14 and her two younger sisters aged 11 and 8, flee the repressive harrowing conditions of Moore River Native settlement, North of Perth, and walk back 1,600 km to their homeland in east Pilbara. “Long way, alright”. Taken from their kin and land under the cruel assimilation policy, these girls went through hell in settlement life, chains and padlocks, barred windows, horrible food, solitary confinement and not even allowed to speak their language.  Breaking out and on the run these girls walked ‘long way’ 1600km barefoot, following the rabbit proof fence to get back home, with no maps, surviving on bush tucker, and being tracked by native police. This survival journey reveals a past more cruel than we can imagine and these girls did one of the longest walks in the history of the Australian outback, longer than many celebrated explorer heroes and in their bare feet.