Rabbit Proof Fence
Why was Molly told to hide the other children?
Molly was told to hide the other children from the roaming police men who were looking for half castes- children with one parent of Aboriginal descent and one of European descent.
Who was Mr.Devil?
Mr A O Nevielle, otherwise known as Mr Devil to the Aborigines, is the chief protector of Aborigines and considered the legal guardian of all the children in the state of Western Australia. This title allows his legal control of every Aboriginal born in the state.
Explain what he means by ‘bred out’
Mr Nevielle's solution to Aboriginal inhabitation is to breed out the race thus avoiding an unwanted third race. This includes the infiltration of white colour from black through planned and approved marriages, therefore ridding physical aboriginal characteristics over a period of generations. He explains that after a third cross no trace of native origin is present in appearance, and that his plan will elevate coloured kids to white status.
Why were the children brought to Moore river? Do you believe this is a good reason? Why?
The children were brought to Moore river to as the white leaders say 'give the benefit our culture has to offer. In spite of themselves the native must be helped.' In these institutions the children learn simple skills such as knitting, sowing and cleaning for girls to eventually become housemaids, and skills for boys to eventually become labourers.
How were the children transported?
The children were transported in a to the train station where they were transported in cages, comparatively to how a criminal is transported to jail.
Give your impressions of the dormitory
The dormitory was used in the film to give a strong impression of the oppression Moore river posed on the children and the little care and sanitation they were given. This was shown with the thin mattresses and the sheer number of girls living in the small room, as well as the bucket of urine which had to be emptied each day.
How does this compare with the environment the girls came from?
The two environments are stark opposites, as the girls are used to traditional Aboriginal lifestyle living of the bush and having freedom while Moore River values complying to rules and having a strict schedule.
What were some of the English culture forced on the children?
Ways in which English culture was forced on this children were:
Why were they checking for the fair ones?
The leaders of Moore river were checking for fair students to take to proper schooling as these children were deemed to be more intelligent.
How did they punish children who ran away?
The children who tried to run away were shut into a shed and were whipped.
Who is the tracker? What is his job?
The tracker's job was to monitor the children and ensure none of them escape the institiution.
Explain the significance of Molly’s dream.
Molly's dream about the horrors of the Moore Creek institution and idealised her old life with her family was what pushed her to the edge and made escaping the institution her only option.
Why didn’t Daisy want to go back home?
Daisy didn't want to try and escape as she was highly fearful of the tracker capturing them by watching their tracks.
Why was the rain important? How did Molly know this?
Molly had looked up at the sky and seen the promise of rain coming their way which was crucial to cover their tracks from the tracker.
Why did they leave Gracie’s bag and then walk along the river? Did they fool the tracker?
The girls left Gracie's bag along the river to leave an obvious symbol of their presence, which they hoped the tracker would see as a coy and walk in the other direction while they walked through the river where their tracks couldn't be seen. However, they didn't fool the tracker and had to hide in the long grass.
What did Molly’s hand signal mean?
Molly's hand signal was calling for the man to come to her and give her some of the animal he had just shot.
What food were they given?
The girls were given a pack of matches and the tail of a wild dog.
Why did the white women help the girls?
The white women helped the girls simply as an act of kindness, despite her harsh tone. It seemed she felt empathetic for them and was trying to set a good example for her young daughter.
Why was the rabbit proof fence important to Molly?
The rabbit proof fence was important to Molly as her father had taught her where they run and she knew that she could follow the fence back to Jigalong.
Why did the tracker and the policeman miss finding the girl the first time?
The girls cut one of the corners to change from their fence to a different one in a shorter distance. When the policemen and tracker caught up to each other coming from the north and south of the fence, the girls were not following the fence at that point, thus causing the tracker and policemen to miss finding them.
How far did they go when they met the ex Moore river child hanging out the washing?
The girls had walked 800 miles.
Why did so many people want to help them even though they wanted by the police?
The girls look and story caused many to feel empathetic to them despite their criminal like status. Appearing small yet strong, trying to find their way home on a long trek was a powerful image to people who saw them and heard their story, feeling obliged to help the,
Why did the tracker have empathy for the girls?
The tracker knew the sheer hardship the girls were going through, and recognized their smarts to avoid getting found.
Why did the Aboriginal lie to Gracie?
The Aboriginal man told Gracie to go to the next stop on the train station where he explains her mother is. He had heard the reward for capturing the girls and made this lie to trick her into getting captured.
Did you feel empathy for Gracie? Why?
Gracie's gullible decision can be empathised with, from all the hardship, physical and emotional pain she had endured to see her mother. And with the promise of her mother being so close it was enough to trick her, due to her desperation.
What were the Aboriginal women up to?
The Aboriginal women had heard of the girls escape and were doing 'women's business' by singing tribal prayers to protect the girls and to follow their voices into the bush to avoid Jigalong station where they would be captured.
What did Molly mean when she said “I lost one”?
When Molly told her mother 'I lost one' she was referring to Gracie who she allowed to get tricked into getting captured again by the policemen.
Why was the coloring of the girl’s skin significant?
Their skin was lighter than traditional full blood aboriginals identifying them as half caste children, with one European parent and one Aboriginal parent.
What was the Protectorate trying to do?
Protectorate was doing what, in his eyes, would protect the Aboriginals. He claims 'These bush natives need to be protected against themselves, if only they knew what we were doing to help them. They did not have the funds to pursue the girls, but wanted to know their whereabouts to eventually capture them at a later date.'
What happened to Molly’s daughter?
Molly and Daisy escaped into the desert with her mother and grandmother and eventually Molly got married and had two children. She and her children were captured and she walked all the way back to Jigalong again with her youngest still a baby in her arms. Shortly after, her youngest Annabelle was captured and never seen by her again.
Should Australians feel guilty for the stolen generation?
As individuals who weren't born at the time of the stolen generation, a person can't feel guilt for what one has not had any part of. However, shame for being Australian, a race which was born with the obliteration of another, can be felt. Though ultimately all the guilt feelings in the world will not make a difference, rather, Australians should work towards improving the lives of the Aboriginal children who were taken away and restoring indigenous culture.
Molly was told to hide the other children from the roaming police men who were looking for half castes- children with one parent of Aboriginal descent and one of European descent.
Who was Mr.Devil?
Mr A O Nevielle, otherwise known as Mr Devil to the Aborigines, is the chief protector of Aborigines and considered the legal guardian of all the children in the state of Western Australia. This title allows his legal control of every Aboriginal born in the state.
Explain what he means by ‘bred out’
Mr Nevielle's solution to Aboriginal inhabitation is to breed out the race thus avoiding an unwanted third race. This includes the infiltration of white colour from black through planned and approved marriages, therefore ridding physical aboriginal characteristics over a period of generations. He explains that after a third cross no trace of native origin is present in appearance, and that his plan will elevate coloured kids to white status.
Why were the children brought to Moore river? Do you believe this is a good reason? Why?
The children were brought to Moore river to as the white leaders say 'give the benefit our culture has to offer. In spite of themselves the native must be helped.' In these institutions the children learn simple skills such as knitting, sowing and cleaning for girls to eventually become housemaids, and skills for boys to eventually become labourers.
How were the children transported?
The children were transported in a to the train station where they were transported in cages, comparatively to how a criminal is transported to jail.
Give your impressions of the dormitory
The dormitory was used in the film to give a strong impression of the oppression Moore river posed on the children and the little care and sanitation they were given. This was shown with the thin mattresses and the sheer number of girls living in the small room, as well as the bucket of urine which had to be emptied each day.
How does this compare with the environment the girls came from?
The two environments are stark opposites, as the girls are used to traditional Aboriginal lifestyle living of the bush and having freedom while Moore River values complying to rules and having a strict schedule.
What were some of the English culture forced on the children?
Ways in which English culture was forced on this children were:
- Making the children wear traditional English style clothing
- Allowing the children only to speak in English language
- Feeding them English associated foods
- Enforcing strict discipline
- Organizing a school choir
- Making the students live in English style buildings
Why were they checking for the fair ones?
The leaders of Moore river were checking for fair students to take to proper schooling as these children were deemed to be more intelligent.
How did they punish children who ran away?
The children who tried to run away were shut into a shed and were whipped.
Who is the tracker? What is his job?
The tracker's job was to monitor the children and ensure none of them escape the institiution.
Explain the significance of Molly’s dream.
Molly's dream about the horrors of the Moore Creek institution and idealised her old life with her family was what pushed her to the edge and made escaping the institution her only option.
Why didn’t Daisy want to go back home?
Daisy didn't want to try and escape as she was highly fearful of the tracker capturing them by watching their tracks.
Why was the rain important? How did Molly know this?
Molly had looked up at the sky and seen the promise of rain coming their way which was crucial to cover their tracks from the tracker.
Why did they leave Gracie’s bag and then walk along the river? Did they fool the tracker?
The girls left Gracie's bag along the river to leave an obvious symbol of their presence, which they hoped the tracker would see as a coy and walk in the other direction while they walked through the river where their tracks couldn't be seen. However, they didn't fool the tracker and had to hide in the long grass.
What did Molly’s hand signal mean?
Molly's hand signal was calling for the man to come to her and give her some of the animal he had just shot.
What food were they given?
The girls were given a pack of matches and the tail of a wild dog.
Why did the white women help the girls?
The white women helped the girls simply as an act of kindness, despite her harsh tone. It seemed she felt empathetic for them and was trying to set a good example for her young daughter.
Why was the rabbit proof fence important to Molly?
The rabbit proof fence was important to Molly as her father had taught her where they run and she knew that she could follow the fence back to Jigalong.
Why did the tracker and the policeman miss finding the girl the first time?
The girls cut one of the corners to change from their fence to a different one in a shorter distance. When the policemen and tracker caught up to each other coming from the north and south of the fence, the girls were not following the fence at that point, thus causing the tracker and policemen to miss finding them.
How far did they go when they met the ex Moore river child hanging out the washing?
The girls had walked 800 miles.
Why did so many people want to help them even though they wanted by the police?
The girls look and story caused many to feel empathetic to them despite their criminal like status. Appearing small yet strong, trying to find their way home on a long trek was a powerful image to people who saw them and heard their story, feeling obliged to help the,
Why did the tracker have empathy for the girls?
The tracker knew the sheer hardship the girls were going through, and recognized their smarts to avoid getting found.
Why did the Aboriginal lie to Gracie?
The Aboriginal man told Gracie to go to the next stop on the train station where he explains her mother is. He had heard the reward for capturing the girls and made this lie to trick her into getting captured.
Did you feel empathy for Gracie? Why?
Gracie's gullible decision can be empathised with, from all the hardship, physical and emotional pain she had endured to see her mother. And with the promise of her mother being so close it was enough to trick her, due to her desperation.
What were the Aboriginal women up to?
The Aboriginal women had heard of the girls escape and were doing 'women's business' by singing tribal prayers to protect the girls and to follow their voices into the bush to avoid Jigalong station where they would be captured.
What did Molly mean when she said “I lost one”?
When Molly told her mother 'I lost one' she was referring to Gracie who she allowed to get tricked into getting captured again by the policemen.
Why was the coloring of the girl’s skin significant?
Their skin was lighter than traditional full blood aboriginals identifying them as half caste children, with one European parent and one Aboriginal parent.
What was the Protectorate trying to do?
Protectorate was doing what, in his eyes, would protect the Aboriginals. He claims 'These bush natives need to be protected against themselves, if only they knew what we were doing to help them. They did not have the funds to pursue the girls, but wanted to know their whereabouts to eventually capture them at a later date.'
What happened to Molly’s daughter?
Molly and Daisy escaped into the desert with her mother and grandmother and eventually Molly got married and had two children. She and her children were captured and she walked all the way back to Jigalong again with her youngest still a baby in her arms. Shortly after, her youngest Annabelle was captured and never seen by her again.
Should Australians feel guilty for the stolen generation?
As individuals who weren't born at the time of the stolen generation, a person can't feel guilt for what one has not had any part of. However, shame for being Australian, a race which was born with the obliteration of another, can be felt. Though ultimately all the guilt feelings in the world will not make a difference, rather, Australians should work towards improving the lives of the Aboriginal children who were taken away and restoring indigenous culture.