Rabbit Proof Fence

Rabbit-Proof Fence is the true story of how and why three young girls walked more than 1,500 miles (2,400 km) across Western Australia, through some of the toughest terrain in the world, with no supplies, no water and no special clothing - other than what they find or are given along the way.

In 1931, sisters Molly and Daisy and their cousin Gracie were forcibly taken from their Aboriginal mothers because they had white fathers and were sent to live at Moore River Mission Station. There they would be educated - according to official policy - to be household servants and grow up fitting in with white society.

Led by Molly, the girls escaped from the Mission Station, knowing that the only way to get back to their mothers is to head north and follow the longest fence in the world, the "Rabbit-Proof Fence" that gives the film it's name. The fence was built as one part of Australian efforts to control the rabbit plague. The sheer physical difficulties of the girls' journey were increased by the fact that they were chased by police and a 'black tracker' - an Aboriginal man with particular skills in following people and game through the Australian outback.

Another central character in the film is the bureaucrat Mr A.O. Neville, who was Western Australia's Aboriginal Chief Protector for decades, and the film portrays him in a non-judgmental fashion. Although some of his writings would indicate otherwise, Neville is portrayed as behaving as he did first of all because it was the law and secondly because he genuinely believed it to be the best for the half-caste children.

Rabbit-Proof Fence is an uplifting story of the strength of the human spirit in an at times brutal landscape. It also provides breathtaking views of part of the famous Australian Outback. We have chosen to screen it, however, because of the insight it provides into the Australian government's policy of separating Aboriginal children from their parents, creating what we now call the "Stolen Generations". It doesn't pull punches, but when it lands its blows it does so in a matter of fact way and not in an off-putting lecturing style. We hope it will provide international visitors with a helpful insight into Australian Indigenous issues and that it will open up a fruitful discussion in which Australians and visitors alike can participate.

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All enquiries about the conference should be directed to Johan Kijne
This website is maintained by Rev Judy Redman
Uniting Church Chaplain
University of New England, Australia
It was last updated on 22 April 2004. Disclaimer
This conference is incorporated as the 2004 International Campus Ministry Conference, Brisbane, Inc.
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