Rabbit-Proof Fence

- That's them. - Yeah.

Molly's the big one. The little one's her sister, Daisy.

The middle one's their cousin, Gracie.

- What about the fathers? - Moved on.

- I catch 'em goanna. - Molly got goanna!

Bring it here.

The next batch. Nothing out of the ordinary.

There's two applications for Section 63 exemptions.

The police reports are there.

William Harris is applying for permission to marry.

She's half-caste also.

And Mary Wilson is applying for permission

to visit her child at Moore River.

She's quite agitated.

Oh, and Gladys Phillips has written

for permission to buy some new shoes.

She had a new pair a year ago.

Now, this report from Constable Riggs

about the three little half-caste girls

at the Jigalong Fence Depot- Molly, Gracie and Daisy.

The youngest is of particular concern.

She's promised to a full-blood.

I'm authorising their removal.

They're to be taken to Moore River as soon as possible.

Oh, and, Miss Thomas - if you could check

that the rate for police transportation

is still, I believe, eight pence per mile.

- Yes, Mr Neville. - Thank you.

That country over there, that's woman country.

You can't go there. You get big trouble.

Yeah, I know.

- Where your country? - My country?

Down south. Long way from here.

Our dad works there on the rabbit fence.

Yeah?

How far does rabbit fence go to?

The rabbit-proof fence?

It goes all the way to the sea down that way.

Right to the top of Australia.

Longest fence in the world.

And all the way to the sea down that way.

1,500 miles long.

Keeps the rabbits on that side of the fence,

keeps the farmland on this side of the fence.

That Molly's getting to be a big girl.

Mr Neville's been writing to me about those girls, you know.

Frankie.

Come on, it's your turn.

Come and get your rations.

Hurry up.

- Run! - Gracie!

You go, Molly!

I've come for the three girls, Maude.

No! No, these my kids! Mine!

It's the law, Maude.

- You've got no say in it. - No! Mine!

Mr Neville's orders.

Now, listen. Move one inch and I will lock your mother up!

He's their legal guardian. Right?

Get away from us! No! No!

No!

Gracie!

Give me back my kids!

You sit up and you stay!

- I got the papers, Maude. - Don't take them!

You got no say in it!

Get in the car!

Now, the three of youse, don't move.

There's nothing you can do here, old girl.

- Nothing you can do. - Leave them!

Leave them!

As you know, every Aborigine born in this state

comes under my control.

Notice, if you will, the half-caste child-

and there are ever-increasing numbers of them,

Now, what is to happen to them?

Are we to allow the creation of an unwanted third race?

Should the coloureds be encouraged

to go back to the black

or should they be advanced to white status

and be absorbed in the white population?

Now, time and again I'm asked by some white man,

"If I marry this coloured person,

"will our children be black?“

And as Chief Protector of Aborigines

it is my responsibility

to accept or reject those marriages.

Here...is the answer.

Three generations.

Half-blood grandmother,

quadroon daughter, octoroon grandson.

Now, as you can see,

in the third generation, or third cross,

no trace of native origin is apparent.

The continuing infiltration of white blood

finally stamps out the black colour.

The Aboriginal has simply been...

...bred out.

Now...

...we come to...

We come to the Moore River Native Settlement.

Ladies, most of you are familiar with our work here,

the training of domestic servants and farm labourers.

I would like to thank you for your continuing support.

Hundreds of half-caste children have been gathered up

and brought here to be given the benefit

of everything our culture has to offer.

For if we are to fit and train such children for the future

they cannot be left as they are,

and, in spite of himself, the native must be helped.

Hello there.

A ghost!

You poor dears.

It's such a long way. You must be exhausted.

Come along. I'll take you straight to the dormitory.

Quickly. It's alright.

Come on. Down you hop.

Come along.

Follow me. Come along.

Follow me, please.

That's the way.

Come along.

There's some beds there. The buckefs in the comer.

Hurry UP-

Where youse from?

Are youse from Broome?

Are you from Wiluna?

Back to sleep, the rest of you. No talking.

Get up! All of youse, make your beds.

Hurry UP-

Karen, Cheryl, stop running around.

Get them blankets tidy.

What's your name? Where you from?

You'll get used to it.

Tracker girl, get that bucket. Take it out now!

What are you standing there dreaming about? Hurry up!

Move!

Get out to breakfast now. Come on.

Get going, all of you.

Come on. You coming?

Thank you, children. Ready for our prayers.

Bow your heads. Eyes closed.

Thank you for the food we eat.

Thank you for the world so sweet.

Thank you for the birds that sing.

Thank you, God, for everything.

There will be no talking.

We'll have no wangka here. You talk English!

Now, eat!

Eat or I'll hold your nose and force it down you!

Here.

Keep still. We've got to scrub you.

Let me see.

Doesn't that feel better?

- Yes, Miss Jessop! - Yes, Miss Jessop.

- Thank you, Miss Jessop! - Thank you, Miss Jessop.

That feels much better.

Here.

Take it.

Put these on.

Come on. Get dressed.

This is your new home.

We don't use that jabber here.

You speak English.

I There's where the old folks stay... I

What are they doing?

Singing Mr Devil's favourite song.

- Huh? -Singing Mr Devil's favourite song.

- Who's that? - One on the end, on that chair.

Very good. Well done.

The following children will come forward. Tommy Grant.

This way, Tommy. Here.

Come on. Stand up straight.

- Whoa. Whoa, boy. - Tommy.

What are they doing now?

They're checking for the fairer ones.

Why?

They're gonna take them to Sister Kate's.

They're more clever than us.

They can go to proper school.

Thank you. No.

There you go. Good boy.

Molly Craig!

That you?

- Molly Craig! - Go on, get up.

Hurry up. They'll whip you.

Molly. Come on, dear.

- Get up. Quick. - Come on, young lady.

They'll put you in the boob. Hurry up.

Come on.

Just Molly, please.

Where you going? Come back here.

- Sit down. - Hurry up.

Come along.

It's alright.

That's the way.

Don't be afraid.

Come along.

Come on, I'm not gonna hurt you.

See?