Molly Craig facts for kids

Molly Kelly (born Molly Craig, died January 2004) was an Martu Aboriginal woman from Australia. She is well-known for her amazing escape from the Moore River Native Settlement in 1931. She walked about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) home with her half-sister Daisy Kadibil and cousin Gracie Cross.

Molly was part of the Stolen Generations. These were children of mixed Aboriginal and white heritage who were taken from their families by the Australian government. Her powerful story inspired the book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence and the movie Rabbit-Proof Fence.

Early Life and the Stolen Generations

Molly Craig was born in Jigalong, Western Australia, around 1916 or 1917. Her mother, Maude, was a Martu Aboriginal woman. Her father, Thomas Craig, was a white Australian fence inspector. The Martu people had moved from the nearby Sandy Desert.

Jigalong was set up in 1907 in far north-west Australia. It was a place to store supplies for workers building the rabbit-proof fence. This fence was built between 1901 and 1907. Its purpose was to stop rabbits and other farm pests from the east from getting into Western Australia.

In the early 1900s, many children with both Indigenous and white parents were taken from their families. They were often placed in special homes or sent to live with white families. This was part of a government policy.

The Escape Journey

In 1931, Molly (who was probably 14), her half-sister Daisy Kadibil (about 8), and her cousin Gracie (about 11) were taken from their homes. They were transported over 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) to the Moore River Native Settlement, which was north of Perth.

The very next day, the three girls bravely escaped on foot. They planned to find the rabbit-proof fence and follow it north all the way back to Jigalong. Molly often carried the younger girls on her back when they got tired.

Molly's daughter, Doris Pilkington Garimara, wrote about this incredible journey in her book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence. In 2002, the book was made into a movie called Rabbit-Proof Fence, directed by Phillip Noyce.

Later Life and Family

Molly Craig later married Toby Kelly, an Aboriginal stockman. They worked together on Balfour Downs station. In 1936, Molly gave birth to her first daughter, Nugi Garimara (who later became known as Doris). Her second daughter, Annabelle, was born in 1937.

In 1940, Molly Kelly was taken to the Moore River settlement again, this time with her two young daughters. She managed to run away again in 1941, carrying 18-month-old Annabelle. She left Doris, who was 4, with a relative.

Sadly, in 1943, Annabelle (who was later known as Anna Wyld) was taken away from Molly. She was told that she was an orphan. Annabelle never saw her mother again, though they did exchange gifts before Molly's death.

Doris was reunited with her mother 21 years later. This reunion led Doris to write her famous books. These include Caprice, A Stockman's Daughter (1991), Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence (1996), and Under the Wintamarra Tree (2002). A children's version of Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence was also published, called Home to Mother (2006).

Molly Kelly passed away peacefully in her sleep in January 2004. She was in Jigalong, Western Australia, and was about 86 or 87 years old.

See also

In Spanish: Molly Kelly para niños

• Martu people
• Doris Pilkington Garimara
• Daisy Kadibil