
What happened to the girls from Rabbit-Proof Fence? Molly Kelly
Molly Kelly
Molly Kelly was an Australian Martu Aboriginal woman, known for her escape from the Moore River Native Settlement in 1931 and subsequent 1,600 km trek home with her half-sister Daisy and cousin Gracie. Her story was the inspiration for the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence, and the film Rabbit-Proof Fence.
Who was the girl who followed the Rabbit Proof Fence?
Youngest of three girls who followed the rabbit-proof fence. Daisy Kadibil, the youngest of the three girls who walked back home following the rabbit-proof fence in 1931, has died in Roebourne, Western Australia. She was 95.
What is the story behind Rabbit-Proof Fence?
Rabbit-Proof Fence tells the story of three Stolen Generations sisters who walked 1,600km back to their homeland. ( The youngest of three girls from Western Australia's north-west, whose life story inspired the award-winning film Rabbit-Proof Fence, has died at the age of 95.
What happened to Daisy from Rabbit-Proof Fence?
Hundredsof people have travelled to the remote West Australian community of Jigalong to farewell the youngest of the three girls whose life stories inspired the award-winning film Rabbit-Proof Fence. Daisy Kadibil died in April, aged 95. A photograph of Daisy Kadibil taken by Victorian photographer Tobias Titz.
How do I get to Rabbit-Proof Fence?
Rabbit-Proof Fence begins in Jigalong in Western Australia’s Pilbara region, with Molly, Daisy and Grace transported to the Moore River Settlement near the Western Australian coast. Moore River Settlement. First, get your bearings. On a map, locate the Moore River Settlement and the rabbit-proof fence the girls follow on their return journey.
What happened to the girls in Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence?
The film's epilogue shows recent footage of Molly and Daisy. Molly explains that Gracie has died and she never returned to Jigalong. Molly also tells us of her own two daughters; she and they were taken from Jigalong back to Moore River.
What happened to Molly and Daisy in Rabbit-Proof Fence?
She trained and worked as a house maid, like Molly and Gracie, and married a station hand with whom she had four children. After her husband passed away, Daisy worked as a housekeeper at a mission. Daisy is still alive, and lives with her children and their families in Jigalong.
Are Molly and Daisy Craig still alive?
Molly Kelly (née Craig died January 2004) was an Australian Martu Aboriginal woman, known for her escape from the Moore River Native Settlement in 1931 and subsequent 1,600 km (990 mi) trek home with her half-sister Daisy Kadibil (née Burungu) and cousin Gracie (née Fields).
Do the girls get caught in Rabbit-Proof Fence?
At other times, they had to steal to eat. Once the girls found the rabbit-proof fence, they were able to follow it back to Jigalong. But the police had been dispatched to catch the girls. According to Olsen, Gracie was recaptured.
What happened to Molly's daughter Annabelle?
Annabelle was later taken to Sister Kate's Children's Home "for near whites" in Perth. Annabelle, now Anna Wyld, remained unreconciled with her mother, even after Molly and Doris's reunion in 1962. Yet a reunion for mother and daughter was planned for 2004. Molly died at Jigalong a month before the planned reunion.
Why did Gracie leave Molly and Daisy?
Gracie left the little party to try to join her mother and was recaptured. Molly and Daisy made it home. I first met Daisy in 1997 when I was researching the script for the film, Rabbit-Proof Fence. She was living in Jigalong with her grown-up family.
What happened Daisy Kadibil?
Later life and death She had children in Wiluna, Western Australia, (who then later on had 31 children and 80 grandchildren) then returned to Jigalong. Members of her family established and still head the Parnngurr Community. She died in a nursing home in South Hedland, Western Australia on 30 March, 2018.
Who is Molly and Daisy in real life?
Molly Kelly (née Craig, died January 2004) was an Australian Martu Aboriginal woman, known for her escape from the Moore River Native Settlement in 1931 and subsequent 1,600 km (990 mi) trek home with her half-sister Daisy Kadibil (née Burungu) and cousin Gracie Cross (née Fields).
How long did the stolen generation last?
The Stolen Generations refers to a period in Australia's history where Aboriginal children were removed from their families through government policies. This happened from the mid-1800s to the 1970s.
What happened to Molly after she made it home Rabbit-Proof Fence?
Molly Kelly, the Aboriginal heroine of the film Rabbit-Proof Fence, has died with one regret: she was never reunited with the daughter taken from her 60 years ago. Molly died in her sleep at Jigalong, Western Australia, after going for her afternoon nap on Tuesday. She was believed to be 87.
Who survived the Stolen Generation?
Around 33 per cent of adult Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are descendants of Stolen Generations survivors. In Western Australia, this figure is as high as 46 Per cent. Today, Stolen Generations survivors live right across Australia. Most (73%) live in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia.
What is the message of the Rabbit-Proof Fence?
Rabbit-Proof Fence is a story about the characters' determination to get home to their family, and the way they resist those who say they can't be together.
What happened to Molly after she made it home Rabbit-Proof Fence?
Molly Kelly, the Aboriginal heroine of the film Rabbit-Proof Fence, has died with one regret: she was never reunited with the daughter taken from her 60 years ago. Molly died in her sleep at Jigalong, Western Australia, after going for her afternoon nap on Tuesday. She was believed to be 87.
How long did it take for Molly Craig walk?
The then Molly Craig, probably 14, was taken with two younger girls from their families in the East Pilbara in 1931 and transported to Moore River, north of Perth. The three escaped the next day and walked to Jigalong. Their journey of 1600 kilometres took nine weeks.
Who is Mavis in the Rabbit-Proof Fence?
One of the most powerful minor characters is Mavis, a young Aboriginal woman who, like the girls, was taken to the Moore River Settlement as a child. She is sent out to service and works for a white couple, and it is implied that her employer is abusive.
Who is Maude Rabbit-Proof Fence?
Summary. As Constable Riggs (Jason Clarke) arrives, Maude (Ningali Lawford) realises he has come to take the children. They run, but Riggs cuts off their escape route and seizes the children one by one. He warns Gracie (Laura Monaghan) to stay in the car or he'll lock up her mother.
What is the rabbit proof fence about?
Rabbit-Proof Fence tells the story of three Stolen Generations sisters who walked 1,600km back to their homeland. (. Supplied: National Portrait Gallery. ) The youngest of three girls from Western Australia's north-west, whose life story inspired the award-winning film Rabbit-Proof Fence, has died at the age of 95.
When was the rabbit proof fence completed?
WA's Rabbit Proof Fence when it was completed in 1907 was the longest unbroken fence in the world. It aimed to keep out rabbits and other pests from the east. (. Public domain: Library and Information Service of WA. ) He said Ms Kadibil was very young when she made the incredible trek.
What was the story of the Moore River camp?
A journey into 'hell on Earth'. Hundreds of children lost their lives in brutal conditions at the Moore River Aboriginal camp. At the time, Western Australia had a policy of removing children from Aboriginal parents and taking them into state care for "integration" into western society.
Was Kadibil young when she made the incredible trek?
He said Ms Kadibil was very young when she made the incredible trek.
Why did Gracie never return to Jigalong?
The fact that Gracie never returned to Jigalong is symbolic of the inability of most Aboriginals to ever return home —either to the land of their birth and childhood, or to the “home” of their true cultural identity, unmarred by colonialism.
Where did Daisy and her family move to?
After Daisy was reunited with her family, they all moved together to a town south of Jigalong. She trained and worked as a house maid, like Molly and Gracie, and married a station hand with whom she had four children. After her husband passed away, Daisy worked as a housekeeper at a mission.
Is Daisy from Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence still alive?
Daisy is still alive, and lives with her children and their families in Jigalong. Pilkington credits Daisy’s “love for storytelling, vivid memory, and zest for life” with having helped her to complete Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence. Daisy managed to evade recapture—the only one of her sisters to do so.
Why did the white people build a fence?
It was a typical response by the white people to a problem of their own making. Building a fence to keep the rabbits out proved to be a futile attempt by the government of the day. For the three runaways, the fence was a symbol of love, home and security.
What did Aboriginal children sleep on?
The inmates, not students, slept on cyclone beds with government-issue blankets. There were no sheets or pillow slips except on special occasions when there was an inspection by prominent officials. Then they were removed as soon as the visitors left the settlement and stored away until the next visit. On the windows there were no colourful curtains, just wire screens and iron bars. It looked more like a concentration camp than a residential school for Aboriginal children.
Who is the protector of aborigines?
Constable Riggs, Protector of Aborigines, announces that he has come to take Molly, Gracie, and Daisy off to school at the Moore River Native Settlement. The girls’ families tearfully... (full context)
Did the inmates sleep on cyclone beds?
The inmates, not students, slept on cyclone beds with government-issue blankets. There were no sheets or pillow slips except on special occasions when there was an inspection by prominent officials. Then they were removed as soon as the visitors left the settlement and stored away until the next visit.
Who was the youngest girl to walk back home following the rabbit-proof fence?
Advertisement. Molly Kelly and Daisy Kadibil (right) of Jigalong. Credit: Fairfax. Daisy Kadibil , the youngest of the three girls who walked back home following the rabbit-proof fence in 1931, has died in Roebourne, Western Australia. She was 95.
What movie is the scene where the three girls are grabbed?
A scene from the movie Rabbit-Proof Fence when the three girls are grabbed.
Why did Gracie leave the little party?
Gracie left the little party to try to join her mother and was recaptured. Molly and Daisy made it home. I first met Daisy in 1997 when I was researching the script for the film, Rabbit-Proof Fence. She was living in Jigalong with her grown-up family. Molly lived close by.
What did Riggs write to Neville?
Riggs made a trip out to Jigalong and wrote to Neville telling him exactly how he would “remo ve” the girls. Hungerford wrote again to Neville saying that in his opinion the girls were better left where they were. “They live in the black camp and stick very much to the black ways.” Neville then wrote to Riggs saying he would leave it up to him whether the girls were taken or not. Constable Riggs was set on taking them. It was a very lucrative weekend’s work for him. He would earn £21, the equivalent of five weeks’ wages.
Why did Mr Neville hear about the three girls?
Mr Neville heard about the three girls because Mrs Chellow, a woman living on a homestead, wrote to him about them. Neville asked the local protector, Constable Riggs to investigate. He also wrote to Superintendent Hungerford at the Jigalong depot who confirmed their presence.
What did Daisy and Molly remember?
Both Molly and Daisy had strong memories of that time. Daisy remembered being given food by farmers’ wives and also stealing food from remote farm sheds. She laughed about running off in the clothes they’d been handed at Moore River, turning back into the little girl she’d once been as she did so.
Where did Daisy live in the 1931 movie?
In 1931 Daisy was eight and living with her family in Jigalong. They were Martu people and had recently moved in from the desert, living semi-nomadic lives around the rabbit-proof fence depot. Their country was immense, extending from the Great Sandy Desert in the north to around Wiluna in the south.
How long did it take to build a rabbit fence?
The fences took six years to build. When completed in 1907, the rabbit-proof fence (including all three fences) stretched 2,023 miles (3,256 km). The cost to build each kilometre of fence at the time was about $250 (equivalent to $18,906 in 2018).
Why was the No. 1 fence patrolled?
Due to frontier violence in the north of the state, a 300-mile (480 km) section of No. 1 Fence was patrolled by riders in pairs. Crawford was responsible for eliminating rabbits which had breached the fence.
What is the purpose of the state barrier fence?
The State Barrier Fence of Western Australia, formerly known as the Rabbit Proof Fence, the State Vermin Fence, and the Emu Fence, is a pest-exclusion fence constructed between 1901 and 1907 to keep rabbits and other agricultural pests, from the east, out of Western Australian pastoral areas. There are three fences in Western Australia: ...
How many horses were in the Anketell fence?
With a workforce of 120 men, 350 camels, 210 horses and 41 donkeys, Anketell was responsible for the construction of the greater part of No. 1 Fence and the survey of its last 70 miles (110 km).
How many fences are there in Western Australia?
There are three fences in Western Australia: the original No. 1 Fence crosses the state from north to south, No. 2 Fence is smaller and further west, and No. 3 Fence is smaller still and runs east–west. The fences took six years to build. When completed in 1907, the rabbit-proof fence (including all three fences) stretched 2,023 miles (3,256 km).
Why did Mr Stevenson propose a fence?
"Mr Stevenson, M.L.A., suggested that the Government should erect a wire fence along our New South Wales border in order to check the coming invasion of rabbits.
What was the first fence made of?
At first, fence posts were made from salmon gum and gimlet, but they attracted termites (locally known as white ants) and had to be replaced. Split white gum was one of the best types of wood used in the fence. Other timbers used were mulga, wodjil, native pine, and tea-tree, depending on what could be found close to where the fence was to be built. Iron posts were used where there was no wood. Most materials had to be hauled hundreds of kilometres from rail heads and ports by bullock, mule and camel teams.
When did Rabbit Proof Fence take place?
The events explored in Rabbit-Proof Fence take place in 1931, 26 years after the introduction of the Western Australian Aborigines Act under which all Aboriginal people were made ‘wards of the state’, with the Chief Protector of Aborigines becoming their legal guardian.
What is rabbit proof fence?
Rabbit-Proof Fence is a story about the characters’ determination to get home to their family, and the way they resist those who say they can’t be together. Along the way, we see the film is very much about identity and belonging, with the identities of the girls intertwined with their family and the area they are from.
Where is Rabbit Proof Fence located?
Rabbit-Proof Fence begins in Jigalong in Western Australia’s Pilbara region , with Molly, Daisy and Grace transported to the Moore River Settlement near the Western Australian coast. Moore River Settlement.
What is the stolen generation?
The Stolen Generation refers to one of the events of Australia's colonisation.
Did children escape from the Moore River Settlement?
Like Molly, many children escaped or attempted to escape places like Moore River Settlement, and trackers and police were often sent out to ‘catch’ them. What does this tell you about the actions of governments that encouraged the practice of removing Aboriginal children, and individuals like A.O. Neville who supported these practices?
Who apologized to the stolen generation?
Watch this excerpt from ex-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s 2008 apology to the Stolen Generations. Do you think watching the film helped you to better understand the Stolen Generation?
Is the Rabbit Proof Fence based on a true story?
Rabbit-Proof Fence is based on the true story of Molly Craig, her sister Daisy Kadibill and cousin Gracie Fields who, after being forcibly removed from their mothers in 1931, escaped from a mission settlement in order to find their way home. They make their journey by way of the ‘rabbit-proof fence’, which once stretched the length of Western Australia.
Where does the Rabbit Proof Fence start and end?
Stretching 1166 kilometres from Point Ann on the south coast through Cunderdin, 150 kilometres east of Perth, the new fence joined the original fence line at Gum Creek in the Murchison area.
What is the message of Rabbit Proof Fence?
In addition to the specific focus on the issue of the Stolen Generations, Rabbit – Proof Fence explores themes such as Aboriginal spirituality, relationships with the land, family bonds, courage, determination and faith.
How long did Molly walk in Rabbit Proof Fence?
The film follows the Aboriginal girls as they walk for nine weeks along 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of the Australian rabbit-proof fence to return to their community at Jigalong, while being pursued by white law enforcement authorities and an Aboriginal tracker.
What is the longest fence in the world?
The longest fence in the world can refer to: The Dingo Fence of south-east Australia, 5,614 km (3,488 mi) finished in 1885. The Rabbit-proof fence of Western Australia, 3,253 km (2,021 mi), completed in 1907.
Are dingoes dangerous?
However, dingoes are much more of a danger to livestock, especially to sheep and young cattle. Attacks on other animals.
Why is there a dingo fence?
The Dingo Fence or Dog Fence is a pest-exclusion fence that was built in Australia during the 1880s and finished in 1885, to keep dingoes out of the relatively fertile south-east part of the continent (where they had largely been exterminated) and protect the sheep flocks of southern Queensland.
Is the Rabbit Proof Fence the same as the Dingo Fence?
The Dingo Fence was not always a dog fence. In fact, it was originally built as a rabbit proof fence, to stop the spread of the rabbit plague across state borders. It was built across the South East section of Australia. However, in 1914, it proved to be unsuccessful, so it was converted into a dog fence.

Overview
Rabbit-Proof Fence is a 2002 Australian drama film directed and produced by Phillip Noyce based on the 1996 book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington Garimara. It is loosely based on a true story concerning the author's mother Molly, as well as two other Aboriginal girls, Daisy Kadibil and Gracie, who escape from the Moore River Native Settlement, north of Perth, Western Austra…
Plot
In 1931, two sisters – 14-year-old Molly and 8-year-old Daisy – and their 10-year-old cousin Gracie live in the Western Australian town of Jigalong. The town lies along the northern part of one of the fences making up Australia's rabbit-proof fence (called Number One Fence), which runs for over one thousand miles.
Over a thousand miles away in Perth, the official Protector of Western Australia…
Cast
(Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains the name of Aboriginal people who have died.)
• Everlyn Sampi as Molly Craig
• Tianna Sansbury as Daisy Craig Kadibil
• Laura Monaghan as Gracie Fields
Production
The film is adapted from the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence, by Doris Pilkington Garimara, which is the second book of her trilogy documenting her family's stories. The other two books are Caprice: A Stockman’s Daughter (1991) and Under the Wintamarra Tree (2002)
Reception
The film stirred controversy in Australia relating to the government's historical policy of removing part-Aboriginal children, who became known as the Stolen Generations, from Aboriginal communities and placing them in state institutions. Eric Abetz, a government official, announced the publishing of a leaflet criticising the film's portrayal of the treatment of indigenous Australians, and demanded an apology from the filmmakers. Director Phillip Noyce suggested instead that th…
Accolades
2001 – Queensland Premier's Literary Awards. Film Script—the Pacific Film and Television Commission Award (Christine Olsen)
2002 – Australian Film Institute Awards Best Film (Phillip Noyce, Christine Olsen, John Winter) Best Original Music Score (Peter Gabriel) Best Sound (Bronwyn Murphy, Craig Carter, Ricky Edwards, John Penders)
See also
• Cinema of Australia
• Survival film, about the film genre, with a list of related films
Further reading
• Pilkington, Doris (Nugi Garimara) (1996). Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence. St. Lucia: University of Queensland Press. ISBN 978-0-70-222709-7.