"Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence" is a memoir by Doris Pilkington, first published in 1996. The memoir tells the story of Pilkington's mother and two other young Aboriginal girls who escaped from a government settlement camp in Western Australia in 1931 and undertook an incredible journey home by following the rabbit-proof fence that ran through the region.
The memoir begins with a description of the Australian government's policy of removing Indigenous children from their families and placing them in settlements, known as the "Stolen Generations." Pilkington's mother and her two friends, Molly and Gracie, were taken from their families and sent to the Moore River Native Settlement.
After enduring harsh living conditions and abuse at the settlement, the girls decide to escape and find their way home. They follow the rabbit-proof fence, which runs for over 1,000 miles across the Western Australian outback, using it as a guide to lead them home.
Throughout the memoir, Pilkington draws on interviews with her mother and her own research to tell the story of this remarkable journey, as well as the broader context of government policies towards Indigenous Australians during this period.
"Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence" is a powerful memoir that highlights the resilience and determination of Indigenous Australians in the face of injustice and oppression. It is also a significant work of historical documentation, shedding light on a little-known aspect of Australia's history and the ongoing impact of government policies on Indigenous communities.
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