Doris Pilkington Garimara
Encyclopedia
Doris Pilkington Garimara AM
(born Nugi Garimara in 1937, and also known as Doris Pilkington) is an Australian author. She is best known for her 1996 book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence
, a story of three Aboriginal
girls, among them Pilkington's mother Molly Craig, who escaped from the Moore River Native Settlement
in Western Australia
and travelled for nine weeks to return to their family.
n settlement of Jigalong. Her mother, Molly, named her Nugi Garimara, but she was called Doris after Molly's employer at the station, Mary Dunnet, who thought Nugi was "a stupid name". As her birth was unregistered, her birth date was recorded as 1 July 1937 by the Department of Native Affairs. She was taken from her mother to be raised at the Moore River mission when she was three and a half years old. Her sister, Annabelle, was also taken when she was 3 years old, but has not acknowledged Craig or Pilkington since she was abducted.
. Her follow-up book, Under the Wintamarra Tree, details her own escape from Moore River. In the three books, Caprice, a Stockman's Daughter, Follow the Rabbit-proof Fence and Under the Wintamarra Tree Pilkington was to document three generations of women in her family. The book was made into an internationally successful film
in 2002, directed by Phillip Noyce
.
In 1990 Pilkington's book Caprice: A Stockman's Daughter the first of the trilogy, won the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards
, Unpublished Indigenous Writer – The David Unaipon
Award.
Pilkington was appointed co-patron of Australia’s State and Federal Sorry Day committee’s Journey of Healing in 2002.
In May 2008 she was awarded the $50,000 Red Ochre Award which is made to an indigenous artist for their outstanding, life-long contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts at home and abroad.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born Nugi Garimara in 1937, and also known as Doris Pilkington) is an Australian author. She is best known for her 1996 book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence
Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence
Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence is an Australian book by Doris Pilkington. Based on a true story, the book is a personal account of an Indigenous Australian family's experiences as members of the "Stolen Generation" – the forced removal of mixed-race children from their families during the...
, a story of three Aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
girls, among them Pilkington's mother Molly Craig, who escaped from the Moore River Native Settlement
Moore River Native Settlement
The Moore River Native Settlement was the name of the now defunct Aboriginal settlement and internment camp located north of Perth and west of Mogumber in Western Australia, near the headwaters of the Moore River.- Name change :...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and travelled for nine weeks to return to their family.
Biography
Pilkington was born at Balfour Downs Station, near the north Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
n settlement of Jigalong. Her mother, Molly, named her Nugi Garimara, but she was called Doris after Molly's employer at the station, Mary Dunnet, who thought Nugi was "a stupid name". As her birth was unregistered, her birth date was recorded as 1 July 1937 by the Department of Native Affairs. She was taken from her mother to be raised at the Moore River mission when she was three and a half years old. Her sister, Annabelle, was also taken when she was 3 years old, but has not acknowledged Craig or Pilkington since she was abducted.
Writing
Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence is considered a powerful example of the mistreatments endured by the Stolen GenerationStolen Generation
The Stolen Generations were the children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the Australian Federal and State government agencies and church missions, under acts of their respective parliaments...
. Her follow-up book, Under the Wintamarra Tree, details her own escape from Moore River. In the three books, Caprice, a Stockman's Daughter, Follow the Rabbit-proof Fence and Under the Wintamarra Tree Pilkington was to document three generations of women in her family. The book was made into an internationally successful film
Rabbit-Proof Fence (film)
Rabbit-Proof Fence is a 2002 Australian drama film directed by Phillip Noyce based on the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington Garimara...
in 2002, directed by Phillip Noyce
Phillip Noyce
Phillip Noyce is an Australian film director.-Life and career:Noyce was born in Griffith, New South Wales, attended Barker College, Sydney, and began making short films at the age of 18, starting with Better to Reign in Hell, using his friends as the cast...
.
In 1990 Pilkington's book Caprice: A Stockman's Daughter the first of the trilogy, won the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards
Queensland Premier's Literary Awards
The Queensland Premier's Literary Awards were inaugurated in 1999 and have grown to become a leading literary awards program within Australia, with $225,000 in prizemoney over 14 categories. One of Australia's richest prizes, top categories offer up to $25,000 for 1st prize.-Fiction Book...
, Unpublished Indigenous Writer – The David Unaipon
David Unaipon
David Unaipon was an Australian Aboriginal of the Ngarrindjeri people, a preacher, inventor and writer. He was the most widely known Aboriginal in Australia, and broke stereotypes of Aboriginals...
Award.
Pilkington was appointed co-patron of Australia’s State and Federal Sorry Day committee’s Journey of Healing in 2002.
In May 2008 she was awarded the $50,000 Red Ochre Award which is made to an indigenous artist for their outstanding, life-long contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts at home and abroad.
See also
- Martu (Indigenous Australian)Martu (Indigenous Australian)Mardu are an Australian Aboriginal people of the Western Desert. Their lands include the Percival Lakes and Pilbara regions in Western Australia...
- Rabbit-Proof Fence (film)Rabbit-Proof Fence (film)Rabbit-Proof Fence is a 2002 Australian drama film directed by Phillip Noyce based on the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence by Doris Pilkington Garimara...
- Stolen GenerationStolen GenerationThe Stolen Generations were the children of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who were removed from their families by the Australian Federal and State government agencies and church missions, under acts of their respective parliaments...
External links
- ABC Australia biography
- European Network for Indigenous Australian Rights article
- Intermix Positive Contribution Award
- Daughter dies with her story still incomplete, by Tony Stephens The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 January 2004
- Leaping The Fence Of Australia's Past - Review of Rabbit-proof Fence (film) Film Inside Out, accessed 15 July 2007