Rabbit proof fence: a resource guide

Introduction
Books and journal articles (held in the AIATSIS Library)
Other stories about the Moore River Settlement
Other stories of escape
A.O. Neville (including papers written by him)
Stolen Generations
Aboriginal beliefs - animal totems

Introduction

The film 'Rabbit Proof Fence' tells the story of three young Aboriginal girls (Molly, Gracie and Daisy) who were forcibly removed from their families in 1931 and sent to the Moore River Native Settlement. It is a true story based on the book by Doris Pilkington Garimara (daughter of Molly) that tells us of their escape and amazing journey home via the rabbit proof fence.

Pilkington, D. / Nugi Garimara. 1996, Follow the rabbit-proof fence,
University of Queensland Press, St Lucia, Qld.
CALL NUMBER: B P639.20/F1

Books and journals (held in the AIATSIS library)

If you live outside of the ACT, many of these titles can be borrowed from the AIATSIS Library. ACT residents can visit the Library to access this material. These books are also held in many other libraries. Your local library should be able to assist find these libraries.

Local call number: B A886.52/S1
Title: The struggle for Aboriginal rights : a documentary history / Bain Attwood and Andrew Markus.
Publication info: St Leonards, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 1999.
Annotation: Documents the history of Aboriginal political activism from the 1830s to
the present; most of the documents were prepared by Indigenous campaigners.

Local call number: B B524.88/A4 and S 06.1/AIAS/7B
Personal Author: Berndt, Ronald M. (Ronald Murray), 1916-1990
Title: Aborigines and change : Australia in the 70s
Publication info: Canberra:Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies:[Atlantic
Highlands], New Jersey Humanities Press 1977
Series Title: (Social anthrop. Ser. 11)
Annotation: Papers presented to a symposium at the 1974 meeting of the Australian
Institute of Aboriginal Studies; separately annotated

Local call number: B A941.65/B1
Title: Bringing them home : report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families / [Commissioner: Ronald Wilson]
Publication info: Sydney : Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, 1997.
General Note: Commonly known as Stolen children report or Stolen generations
report.
Annotation: Outlines the process of the inquiry; traces the history of laws, policies
and practices in each state and territory which led to family separations and the
removal of children; describes the consequences of removal on children, families and
communities, including inter-generational effects; recommends principles for
reparation and compensation; proposes services for those affected by removal;
examines contemporary separations and proposes national minimum standards for
Indigenous young people under state or territory jurisdiction
Electronic access: http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/special/rsjproject/rsjlibrary/hreoc/stolen/

Local call number: B G865.70/C1
Title: Creating a nation / Patricia Grimshaw ... [et al.]
Publication info: Ringwood, Vic.:McPhee Gribble , 1994
Annotation: Collection of essays on Australian history that challenges the
conventional view of Australias past as a creation of white men of British descent;
chapters on the Aboriginal experience by Ann McGrath annotated separately.

Local call number: B H462.74/I1
Personal Author: Hegarty, Ruth.
Title: Is that you, Ruthie? / Ruth Hegarty.
Publication info: St Lucia, Qld. : University of Queensland Press, 1999

Local call number: B K465.80/W1
Title: The way we civilise : Aboriginal affairs - the untold story / Rosalind Kidd.
Publication info: St Lucia, Qld.: University of Queensland Press, 1997.
Annotation: Analyses government policy and practice in Queensland for 150 years to
1988; discusses relationship of public administrators with missionaries, and with
health specialists and anthropologists in the 1930s; Federal government involvement
in Queensland in the1940s; supposed liberalisation of restrictive legislation in the
1960s; politicisation of Aboriginal affairs in the 1970s and 1980s; Aboriginal
labour; wages; policing; World War II; reserves; missions.

Local call number: B C778.53/B1 1988
Title: Blood from a stone / [edited by] Andrew Markus
Edition: 2nd ed.
Publication info: Sydney:Allen & Unwin , 1988 1988

Local call number: B P927.41/S1
Personal Author: Prentis, Malcolm D. (Malcolm David), 1948 -
Title: A study in black and white : the Aborigines in Australian history
Publication info: Sydney [etc.]:Hicks Smith 1975
Series Title: (Stud. Aust. Social Hist.)
Annotation: General account of Aboriginal reaction to whites and white reaction to
Aborigines since initial settlement

Local call number: B R884.84/D1
Personal Author: Rowley, C. D. (Charles Dunford), 1906-1985
Title: The destruction of Aboriginal society : Aboriginal policy and practice, v.1
Publication info: Canberra:A.N.U. Press 1970
Series Title: (Aborigines in Australian Society, 4)

Local call number: B P739.13/C1 (1990)
Personal Author: Poad, Doug
Title: Contact : an Australian history / Poad, West, Miller
Edition: 2nd ed.
Publication info: Port Melbourne, Vic.:Heinemann Educational Australia ,
1990

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Other stories about the Moore River settlement

Molly, Gracie and Daisy escaped from the Moore River settlement. The Government settlement (just north of Perth) was established in 1916 as a place that would provide employment for Aboriginal people and also provide education and health facilities for Aboriginal children. It was designed to introduce Aboriginal people to Christianity and Western culture and many so called 'part-Aboriginal' children were sent there after being removed from their families. There are many stories told by people who were sent to Moore River of poor conditions and mistreatment.

To search Mura®, the AIATSIS catalogue, use the keyword 'Moore River (SW WA SH50-14)' in the PLACE field or simply 'Moore River Settlement' in the WORDS or PHRASE field.

Local call number: B A546.60/N1
Title: Nyoongar Yorgas remember : early days at Moore River Settlement / by Hazel Anderson, Ernestine Little, Wondy Wolfe
Publication info: Yinnar, Vic.:Green River Books , [1993] 1993
Annotation: History of Moore River Settlement; life story of Hazel Anderson; life
story of Ernestine Little; includes traditional stories from the south west of Western
Australia, list of plant foods in the Moore River area, genealogies of Hazel Anderson
and Ernestine Little

Local call number: B D262.22/B2
Title: A boys life / Jack Davis
Publication info: Broome, WA:Magabala Books , 1991
Annotation: Autobiography up until age 15; family life in Yarloop; school;
friendships; experience of the Depression and Moore River Native Settlement;
intervention of A.O. Neville

Local call number: B M459.56/S1
Title: Sort of a place like home : remembering the Moore River Native Settlement / Susan Maushart
Publication info: Fremantle, W.A.:Fremantle Arts Centre Press , 1993
Annotation: Interviews with; Hazel Anderson, Jim and Myrtle Brennan, Robert
Bropho, Eric Conway, Ken Colbung, Doreen Dalgety, Elizabeth Dalgety, Ralph
Dalgety, Jack Davis, Olive Hart , Vincent Lambadgee, Ned Mippy, Phyllis Mippy,
Edie Moore , Alice Nannup, Angus Wallam and Bella Yappo - are the basis for this
history of the Moore River Native Settlement; includes an annotated selection of
articles from Western Australian newspapers; biography of Gladys Gilligan compiled
from archival documents and a fictional account of A.O. Neville addressing a class of
Aboriginal children

Local call number: B N186.10/W1
Title: When the pelican laughed / Alice Nannup Lauren Marsh and Stephen Kinnane
Publication info: South Fremantle, W.A.:Fremantle Arts Centre Press , 1992
Annotation: Life history of Alice Nannup; domestic service; removal of children; discrimination; Moore River Native Settlement; Geraldton Reserve

Local call number: B P639.20/C1
Personal Author: Pilkington, Doris, 1937-.
Title: Caprice : a stockmans daughter / Doris Pilkington (Nugi Garimara)
Publication info: St. Lucia, Qld.:Uni. Qld. Press , 1991.
General Note: Winner of the David Unaipon Award.
Annotation: Story of three generations of Yauratji women, describing life at pastoral
stations, Moore River settlement and Roelands Mission covering issues of
identity, removal of children, cross cultural relations, effects of Christian upbringing

Local call number: S 05/19
Title: I hate working for white people / Jennifer Sabbioni
Source: Hecate, 1993; v. 19 no. 2, p. 7-29
Annotation: Policies and practices of employment of Aboriginal women in Western
Australia; Moore River Native Settlement, history and treatment of inmates; removal
of children; treatment of Aboriginal women while in domestic service; wages.

Local call number: B V217.42/N1
Title: No options, no choice! : the Moore River experience : my father, Thomas Corbett, an Aboriginal half-caste / Rosemary van den Berg
Publication info: Broome, W.A.:Magabala Books , 1994
Annotation: Autobiography of Thomas Corbett as told to his daughter; born 1910 in
the Pilbara, removed from his mother and taken to Moore River Settlement; working
life in the south west of Western Australia; labouring and stock work; return to Moore
River; marriage and family; final move from Moore River to Pinjarra in 1944

Local call number: p WHE
Title: The Moore River Native Settlement, 1918-1951 / by Dr Joan Wardrop
Source: Mogumber Heritage Committee - Pictorial collection of the Moore River native settlement 1917-1965 / Mogumber Heritage Committee part of the Wheatbelt Aboriginal Corporation proudly presents .. [1992]; p. 3-11; ill., ports Imprint: 1990
Annotation: History of the Moore River Native Settlement, 1918-1951; treatment of Aborigines by the Government and staff at the settlement

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A.O. Neville

Auber Octavius Neville or 'Mr Devil' as he is referred to in the film, was the Chief Protector of Aborigines from 1915 to 1936. Under the W.A Aborigines Act he removed many part Aboriginal children from their families. This included the removal of Molly, Gracie and Daisy.

To search Mura®, the AIATSIS catalogue, use the keyword 'A.O Neville' in the PERSONAL SUBJECT field, or the WORDS or PHRASE field.

Local call number: B J170.56/M1
Title: Mister Neville : a biography / by Pat Jacobs
Publication info: Fremantle, W.A.:Fremantle Arts Centre Press , 1990
Annotation: Biography of the Chief Protector of Aborigines in Western Australia,
1915-1940; government policy and administration; creation and abolition of the
North-West Ministery; repercussions of the Forrest River Massacre; influence of
eugenics theory; miscegenation and assimilation policy; pass system; Moseley Royal
Commission into the treatment of Aborigines, 1934-1936; publication of Australia's
Coloured Minority; National Association for the Advancement of Native Races;
relation with anthropology; reference to Carrolup, Dampierland, Beagle Bay,
Lombadia, Moore River, Moola Bulla.

Local Call Number: AAIN (Australian Aborigines in the news)
Title: "We must go on weeding out the light-coloured children" / Victoria Laurie
Source: ,Weekend Australian Magazine, 5-6 January 2002, p. [20] - 23, ills., ports
Abstract: With the impending release of the movie "Rabbit Proof Fence", explores the beliefs and actions of the Chief Protector of Aborigines in Western Australia, A. O.
Neville; Neville's son, John, comments on Neville's policies and intentions, and also Jack Davis' portrayal of his father in "No Sugar"; also describes Geoffrey Narkle's experience at Wandering Mission and the play "King Hit" which he wrote about his experiences.

Local call number: S 57/16
Title: [Review of] Australias coloured minority/ by A.O. Neville
Publication info: 1950
Source: Man -- 1950; v.50; 166-167
Personal Author: Kaberry, Phyllis M. (Phyllis Mary), 1910-1977

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Papers written by A.O. Neville

Local call number: B N523.11/A1
Personal Author: Neville, Albert Octavius
Title: Australias coloured minority : its place in the community
Publication info: Sydney : Currawong 1947
Annotation: Assimilation, past and present

Local call number: S 61/1
Title: [The Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science, Congress]
Publication info: 1947
Annotation: Abstracts of Presidential address, Section F, by T.G.H. Strehlow - Anthropology and the study of languages (listed separately) and paper by A.O.
Neville - Contributing causes of Aboriginal depopulation in Western Australia
Source: Medical Journal of Australia -- 1947; v.2, no.16; 485-486

Local call number: p CON & Rp CON
Corporate Author: Conference of Commonwealth and State Aboriginal
Authorities (1937 : Canberra).
Title: Aboriginal welfare : initial conference of Commonwealth and State Aboriginal authorities held at Canberra, 21-23 April 1937.
Publication info: Canberra:Commonwealth Government Printer 1937
General Note: Photocopy and original; At head of title; Commonwealth of Australia; see also Conference of Commonwealth and State Ministers of Aboriginal Welfare
Annotation: Destiny of Aboriginal race; uniformity of legislation; racial problems; financial assistance by governments; mission control; conditions in States and Northern Territory; opium. Includes statements made by A.O Neville and others.

Local call number: p NEV
Title: Relations between settlers and Aborigines in Western Australia / by A.O. Neville
Publication info: 1936
Physical descrip: p. 10-46
Annotation: History of exploration, settlement; Aboriginal resistance; conflict, Yagan, Weeip, native police; establishment of missions; government policy.

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Stolen Generations

The many Aboriginal people removed from their families under Government policies and legislation are collectively referred to as the 'Stolen Generations'.

To search Mura®, the AIATSIS catalogue, enter keyword 'stolen generations' in the TOPICAL SUBJECT field or the WORDS or PHRASE field.

Local call number: B H133.24/B1
Title: Broken circles : fragmenting Indigenous families 1800-2000 / Anna Haebich.
Publication info: Fremantle, W.A. : Fremantle Arts Centre Press, 2000.
Annotation: A comprehensive history of Aboriginal child removal in the various states and territories from the early days of colonisation to the late 20th century ; official policies and practices in relation to Aboriginal families and communities and the reactions of Aboriginal people to these interventions ; child removal, dispossession, depopulation and the destruction of Aboriginal societies and cultures ; fragmentation of Aboriginal families ; Louis Johnson/Warren Braedon life history ; treatment of Aboriginal children in Tasmania during the early years of colonisation ; child welfare practices ; system of child removal in Western Australia and the differences between the treatment of Aboriginal and non Aboriginal children and families by child welfare authorities ; resistance of Aboriginal parents to the removal of the children and the protests of other Australians ; assimilation policies of the mid twentieth century ; adoption, fostering and incarceration ; political campaigns by Aboriginal people and their supporters from the 1970s to the 1990s to regain control of their children.

Local call number: B H133.24/S1
Personal Author: Haebich, Anna.
Title: The stolen generations : separation of Aboriginal
children from their families in Western Australia / Anna Haebich and Ann Delroy.
Publication info: Perth, W.A. : Western Australian Museum, 1999.
Annotation: Catalogue produced to accompany an exhibition dedicated to the stolen generations that forms part of the Aboriginal Gallery at the Western Australian Museum ; Western Australian policy and treatment of Aboriginal children from colonial times through to the present day ; child removal and institutionalisation ; White Australia; assimilation ; missions ; segregation and later desegregation in schools.

Local call number: B H319.50/S1
Title: Stolen / Jane Harrison.
Publication info: Sydney : Currency Press, 2000.
Annotation: A play about the experiences of five Aboriginal children removed from their families and brought up in a children's home ; includes theatre program for the 2000 tour by the Playbox Theatre to New South Wales, Tasmania and London.

Local Call Number: p MAN
Title: The stolen generations / Robert Manne
Publication info: 1998.
Annotation: Lecture transcript; discusses and criticises the policies and practices of Indigenous child removal; includes personal experiences of Margaret Tucker and Lang Dean; criticises statements made by John Herron on behalf of the Australian Government in regards to a national apology; historical perspective the eugenic practices of the inter-war period - sterilisation and Indigenous marriage policies as implemented by Dr Cecil Cook and A.O Neville; relation of these policies to social Darwinism and assimilation practice; includes reference to Mary Bennett as a supporter of Aboriginal women's rights in the 1930s; discusses the question of genocide.

Local call number: B M494.29/I1
Title: It is no secret / Donna Meehan
Publication info: Milsons Point, N.S.W. : Random House, c2000.
Annotation: Donna Meehan's autobiography detailing her early recollections of life with her Aboriginal family; removal from her Aboriginal family at Coonamble NSW at the age of five at the behest of the Welfare board; being sent to be the only child of a white family in Newcastle; schooling; meeting her husband Ron; having children;suicidal feelings; tracing her birth family; reunion with her Aboriginal mother;getting to know her Aboriginal family; the love and support of her husband and adoptive parents; the journey towards acceptance of her Aboriginality; Christian faith; Higher education; the passing away of her Aboriginal mother; welfare work; Reconcilliation; writing her story; the passing away of her husband Ron.

Local call number: B M854.12/S1
Title: Saltwater fella / John Moriarty with Evan McHugh.
Publication info: Ringwood, Vic. : Viking, 2000.
Annotation: Life story of John Moriarty - autobiography; family origins in Borroloola ; a member of the stolen generations ; South Australia's first Aboriginal university graduate ; role in the Aboriginal Affairs bureaucracy ; Aboriginal rights ; founder of the the Balarinji Design Studio - Wunala and Nalanji Dreaming designs for Qantas.

Local call number: B R284.34/R2
Personal Author: Read, Peter, 1945-
Title: A rape of the soul so profound: the return of the stolen generations / Peter Read.
Publication info: St Leonards, N.S.W. : Allen & Unwin, 1999.
Annotation: Presents evidence for the existence of the stolen generation of Aboriginal children removed from their families by the child welfare system; adoption and fostering; discusses the establishment and work of Link-Up to re-unite families ; government policy and response to the 'Bringing them home' report ; Charles Perkins' story is used to illustrate changing attitudes over time.

Local Call Number: B S652.62/T1
Title: Taken by force : a novel of the stolen generation / by John P. McD Smith.
Publication info: Henley Beach, S. Aust. : Seaview Press, 2000.
Annotation: Portrays one Aboriginal woman's experience of mission and station life; depicts child removal and the emotional repercussions for the mother and child; plight for reunion

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Aboriginal beliefs - animal totems

Animal totems are an important part of Aboriginal spiritual beliefs. In the film, the eagle is Molly's totem.

To search Mura®, the AIATSIS catalogue, enter the keyword 'Religion - totemism' in the TOPICAL SUBJECT field or 'animal totems' in the WORDS or PHRASE field.

Local call number: REF 03 ENC
Title: The encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia : Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, society and culture (page 1093 - totems) / Dr David Horton, general editor.
Publication info: Canberra : Aboriginal Studies Press for the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, 1994

Local call number: S 80/4
Title: Willy wagtail / Ruby Langford Ginibi
Source: Ulitarra, 1993; no. 3, p. 20
Imprint: 1993
Annotation: Poem on the willy wagtail as a totem

Local call number: S 37.3/3
Principal Author: Maraltadj, David
Title: Totems / David Maraltadj (Ngun)
Source: MOSA Magazine - 1989; no. 3, p.13
Imprint: 1989
Annotation: Authors relationship to his totem, Doorway to the Beehive, from his birthplace at Kalumburu, W.A.

Local call number: B M936.21/Y1
Title: Yorro yorro : Everything standing up alive : spirit of the Kimberley / David Mowaljarlai, Jutta Malnic
Publication info: Broome, W.A.:Magabala Books , 1993

Local call number: B T665.65/J1
Personal Author: Tonkinson, Robert, 1938-
Title: The Jigalong mob : Aboriginal victors of the desert crusade
Publication info: Menlo Park, Calif.:Cummings 1974
Series Title: (Kiste and Ogan social change series in anthropology)
*see chapter four - religious life

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