Doris Pilkington Garimara facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doris Pilkington Garimara
|
|
|---|---|
| Born |
Nugi Garimara
c. 1 July 1937 Balfour Downs Station, Western Australia
|
| Died | 10 April 2014 (aged 76) Perth, Western Australia
|
| Other names | Doris Pilkington |
| Occupation | Writer, nurse |
| Family | Molly Craig (mother) Daisy Kadibil (aunt) |
| Honours | Western Australian Writers Hall of Fame |
Doris Pilkington Garimara (born Nugi Garimara) was an important Australian writer. She was born around July 1, 1937, and passed away on April 10, 2014. She is also known as Doris Pilkington.
Doris Pilkington Garimara wrote a famous book called Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence. This book tells the true story of three Aboriginal girls. Her own mother, Molly Craig, was one of these girls. They escaped from a place called the Moore River Native Settlement in Western Australia. They traveled an amazing 2,414 kilometers (1,500 miles) for nine weeks to find their way back home to their family. This story is about a sad time in history known as the Stolen Generations.
Contents
Who Was Doris Pilkington Garimara?
Doris Pilkington Garimara was a talented writer and a nurse. She was known for sharing important stories about her family and the history of Aboriginal people in Australia.
Her Early Life and Family
Doris Pilkington was born at Balfour Downs Station, which is near Jigalong in Western Australia. Her mother, Molly, gave her the name Nugi Garimara. However, she was later called Doris by Molly's employer.
When Doris was about three and a half years old, she was taken from her mother. This was part of a government policy that took many Aboriginal children from their families. She was sent to live at the Moore River mission. Her younger sister, Annabelle, was also taken. Annabelle was told she was an orphan and grew up separated from her Aboriginal heritage. Doris was finally reunited with her mother 21 years later.
The Story of the Rabbit-Proof Fence
Doris Pilkington Garimara's book, Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence, is a very powerful story. It describes the difficult experiences faced by children of the Stolen Generations. These were children who were taken from their families by the government.
The book was made into a successful film in 2002. The movie helped people all over the world understand this important part of Australian history.
Her Amazing Books
Doris Pilkington wrote several books that tell her family's stories.
- Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence (1996) tells the story of her mother and aunts escaping the mission.
- Under the Wintamarra Tree shares her own experiences at the Moore River and Roelands Native Missions. It explains how she managed to escape by enrolling in nursing school.
- Home to Mother is a special children's version of Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence.
Through these four books, Doris Pilkington documented the lives of three generations of women in her family. Her first book, Caprice: A Stockman's Daughter, won an award in 1990.
Important Awards and Recognition
Doris Pilkington Garimara received many honors for her writing and her work.
- In 1990, her book Caprice: A Stockman's Daughter won the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards' David Unaipon Award. This award is for unpublished Indigenous writers.
- In 2002, she became a co-patron for Australia's Journey of Healing. This committee works on "Sorry Day," which remembers the Stolen Generations.
- In May 2008, she received the $50,000 Red Ochre Award. This award is given to an outstanding Indigenous Australian artist for their lifelong contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts.
Later Life and Legacy
Doris Pilkington Garimara passed away on April 10, 2014, in Perth, Western Australia. She was 76 years old. She died from ovarian cancer.
In 2022, after her death, Doris Pilkington Garimara was honored. She was added to the Western Australian Writers Hall of Fame. Her stories continue to teach and inspire many people.
See also
